Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of preventing the deformation of laundry due to spin-drying holes, increasing friction between the inner surface of a washing tub and laundry to improve the washing efficiency, and reducing wash water consumption. The washing machine includes a water tub, a washing tub mounted in the water tub, a drive unit to rotate the washing tub, and a wash water circulation unit to supply wash water in the water tub into the washing tub. The washing tub has a plurality of depressions formed therein and depressed outward from the inner surface thereof in the shape of a polygonal pyramid, and a plurality of spin-drying holes formed in a deep area of the respective depressions.

Abstract: A washing machine having an improved structure which increases washing capacity without increasing the size of the washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet including an outer part and a cylindrical inner part connected to the outer part, a spin basket rotatably disposed in the inner part and including a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the spin basket, a motor provided under the spin basket, a clutch to selectively transmit power of the motor to the spin basket or the pulsator, a base plate to fix the clutch and the motor, and suspension members connecting the base plate to the upper portion of the cabinet. Wash water is stored within the spin basket and is not stored outside the spin basket during a washing cycle.

Abstract: A washing machine in which the poor heat-resistant laundry is sufficiently wet so that a plurality of water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of preventing the deformation of laundry due to spin-drying holes, increasing friction between the inner surface of a washing tub and laundry to improve the washing efficiency, and reducing wash water consumption. The washing machine includes a water tub, a washing tub mounted in the water tub, a drive unit to rotate the washing tub, and a wash water circulation unit to supply wash water in the water tub into the washing tub. The washing tub has a plurality of depressions formed therein and depressed outward from the inner surface thereof in the shape of a polygonal pyramid, and a plurality of spin-drying holes formed in a deep area of the respective depressions.

Abstract: A Washing machine washes laundry in a wobbling fashion to improve washing force and to prevent damage to the laundry. The washing machine includes a pulsator rotatably mounted at the lower part of a rotary tub to generate a water current and to move laundry, a plurality of lifters protruding from the top of the pulsator to raise the laundry during rotation of the pulsator, and a movement changing member formed at the upper end of each of the lifters to drop the laundry raised by a corresponding one of the lifters. The movement changing member includes a roller rotated by friction with the laundry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of generating hot air and steam to be supplied into a rotary tub using a single heater. The washing machine includes a rotary tub to receive laundry, a heating duct defining a channel to supply hot air to the rotary tub, a heater mounted in the heating duct, and a steam generating part heated by the heater to generate steam to be supplied to the rotary tub. The steam generating part includes an object heated by contacting the heater. The object includes a tubular member having an outer surface contacting the heater and a hollow part for steam generation defined therein. The object may include a steam generating plate having one surface contacting the heater.

Abstract: A pulsator device in which a second pulsator performs different movements according to rotating directions of a first pulsator so as to reduce water consumption and improve washing performance.

Abstract: A laundry weight sensing method. A motor is consecutively turned on and off plural times, the number of pulses output from a counter electromotive force detector according to counter electromotive force of the motor when the motor is finally turned off is counted, and a laundry weight is sensed using the counted number of pulses.

Abstract: A washing machine in which the poor heat-resistant laundry is sufficiently wet so that a plurality of water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam.

Abstract: A pulsator device that generates a composite stream of water to improve performance of a washing machine. The pulsator device includes a first pulsator configured to be rotated about a rotary shaft, a shaft connected to the first pulsator such that the shaft is rotated with the first pulsator, the shaft being eccentric with respect to the rotary shaft, and a second pulsator rotatably coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A washing machine in which the poor heat-resistant laundry is sufficiently wet so that a plurality of water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam.

Abstract: A washing machine having a steam generator, which prevents the accumulation of scale in the steam generator due to the long-term use thereof, and a method for controlling the same. The washing machine includes a water supply valve for supplying water to the inside of the steam generator therethrough so as to cool the steam generator when the operating time of the steam generator exceeds a predetermined time, and a controller for controlling the operation of a heater for heating the water supplied through the water supply valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine to generate rotating and vertical water streams simultaneously. The rotating water stream is generated by rotation of an outer pulsator, and the vertical water stream is generated by rotation of an inner pulsator. A rotating body is installed between the outer pulsator and the inner pulsator, to convert rotation into vertical movement. An inner wall of the outer pulsator is formed with a curved surface to come into close contact with the inner pulsator being moved vertically.

Abstract: A washing machine and a water level control method thereof that can supply an appropriate amount of water based on the amount of laundry using a conventional water level sensor even when the washing machine has a holeless rotary drum. The water level control method includes supplying water between the water tub and the rotary drum, introducing the supplied water into the rotary drum, discharging the introduced water out of the rotary drum, and detecting the water level of the water remaining in the water tub, and comparing the detected water level with a predetermined water level and, when the detected water level is below the predetermined water level, resupplying water between the water tub and the rotary drum until the detected water level reaches the predetermined water level.

Abstract: In the washing machine, which has a tub installed in a main body, a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub, and a pulsator unit installed in the spin basket to generate a washing water current, the pulsator unit includes a first pulsator connected to a washing shaft of a driving device, a rod member installed on the upper surface of the first pulsator such that the rod member is tilted toward a central axis of the first pulsator at a designated angle, and a second pulsator coupled with the rod member such that the second pulsator is relatively rotated against the rod member.

Abstract: A washing machine capable of reducing the manufacturing cost of a circulation device installed to circulate water and capable of preventing water from being scattered when spraying circulating water into a spin basket is described. A tub cover of the washing machine includes a guide part provided with a connector, which is integrated with the tub cover, connected with a circulation passage, and inclined upward toward the tub cover, and an inclined surface inclined toward the spin basket at an inner edge of the tub cover, thereby reducing the manufacturing of the circulation device and preventing water from being scattered. The washing machine includes a circulation drain port formed at a side surface of a tub and a filtering duct connected with the circulation drain port, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the circulation device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a detergent supply path which guides detergent stored in a lower part of a main body of the washing machine to an upper part of the main body. The washing machine includes a main body; a support base removably mounted to the main body; a detergent storage unit mounted at a lower part of the main body to be moved in and out of the main body; a detergent supply path guiding the detergent stored in the detergent storage unit that is in the lower part of the main body, to an upper part of the main body; and a guide unit guiding movement of the detergent supply path according to the movement in and out of the detergent storage unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are a detergent dissolving device for a washing machine capable of improving solubility of detergent, and a washing machine having the same. The detergent dissolving device includes a powdered detergent box, and the powdered detergent box includes a detergent receiving portion, and a water feed portion defined at a periphery of the detergent receiving portion to feed water into the detergent receiving portion so as to cause rotating motion of water received in the detergent receiving portion. The detergent dissolving device further includes a cover provided to open or close the detergent receiving portion. The cover includes a water discharge portion to discharge the water out of the detergent receiving portion.

Abstract: A washing machine having a deodorizing unit that performs a deodorizing operation independently of a washing process, to remove odor from an object to be deodorized, and a control method thereof. The control method has operation of determining whether a deodorizing signal is inputted by a user, and performing a deodorizing mode using the deodorizing unit independently of a washing process, if it is determined that the deodorizing signal is inputted.

Abstract: A washing machine in which the poor heat-resistance laundry is sufficiently wet so that a plurality of water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam.