Abstract: Disclosed are a drum type washing machine and a vapor generator thereof. The vapor generator of the drum type washing machine comprises: a case provided with a space portion for storing water therein, a water supplying portion for supplying water at one side thereof, and a vapor exhaustion portion for exhausting vapor at another side thereof; a water level detecting means installed at the case for detecting a level of water stored in the case; and a heater installed in the case for heating water stored in the case.

Abstract: A washing method in a steam injection type washing machine in which wash water is heated to generate high-temperature and high-pressure steam while passing through the steam supply unit in the wash or rinse cycle, and the generated steam is injected into the wash tub at the top of the wash tub. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly achieve the wetting of clothes with wash water while achieving an enhancement in sterilization and washing performances. In addition, consumption of water and electrical energy can be reduced.

Abstract: Method for controlling a drying process of a washing and drying machine including a preheating step for tightly closing and heating an inner tub for preparing an environment favorable for vaporization of water by elevating a temperature of the inner tub within a short time period, and a drying step for supplying heated air to the inner tub, to make heat exchange between the heated air and laundry, for drying the laundry, whereby improving a drying performance and reducing occurrence of environmental problem.

Abstract: A steam supplying apparatus in a washing machine which is capable of supplying steam into a wash tub at the top of the wash tub, along with wash water supplied into the wash tub. The steam supplying apparatus includes a tank connected to a water supply unit adapted to supply wash water, the tank being connected with a wash tub via a steam supply line, and provided with a heater, an air chamber defined in the tank above a predetermined water level limit of the tank, the air chamber being reduced in volume in accordance with an increase in the water level of the tank, thereby causing air existing in the air chamber to be compressed, and an extension passage extending between the predetermined water level limit of the tank and the steam supply line. When water is excessively supplied into the tank over the predetermined water level limit, the excessive amount of water is drained through the extension passage and steam supply line in accordance with air pressure in the air chamber.

Abstract: A spray type drum washing machine including a tub mounted in a cabinet, and adapted to contain wash water therein, a circulation line connected between a portion of the tub and another portion of the tub to circulate wash water through the tub, a pump installed at the circulation line, and adapted to forcibly feed wash water through the circulation line for the circulation of the wash water through the tub, and an atomizing device provided at the circulation line, and adapted to atomize the wash water fed through the circulation line, whereby the wash water to circulate through the tub is supplied in an atomized state into the tub. The wash water can rapidly permeate clothes contained in the drum, so that it can more effectively come into contact with contaminants attached to the clothes. As a result, it is possible to achieve an enhancement in washing and rinsing performances while reducing the consumption of wash water.

Abstract: A washing machine comprises: an outer tub disposed in a casing for receiving washing water therein; an inner tub rotatably disposed in the outer tub for receiving laundry therein; and a plasma discharge unit for performing a plasma discharge on the washing water. According to this, a washing performance and a rinsing performance are enhanced and an amount of washing water is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drum washing machine which is capable of lifting clothes to a predetermined height and then dropping the lifted clothes so that the clothes can be washed by means of friction and impact. The drum washing machine is capable of heating wash water and spraying the heated wash water into a tub and a drum of the washing machine in a phase of high-temperature steam, thereby rapidly soaking clothes in the wash water, improving sterilizing and washing efficiencies of the drum washing machine, reducing costs of manufacturing the drum washing machine, and saving wash water and electric energy which are required for washing the clothes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drum washing machine which is capable of lifting clothes to a predetermined height and then dropping the lifted clothes so that the clothes can be washed by means of friction and impact. The drum washing machine is capable of heating wash water and spraying the heated wash water into a tub and a drum of the washing machine in a phase of high-temperature and high-pressure steam, thereby rapidly soaking clothes in the wash water, improving sterilizing and washing efficiencies of the drum washing machine, and saving wash water and electric energy.

Abstract: The water circulation system of a drum-type washing machine uses one motor to drive both the circulation and drain pumps. The drum-type washing machine includes a motor having a shaft, the motor enabling forward and reverse rotation of the shaft; a circulation pump, installed on the shaft of the motor, for circulating water by a rotational operation of the motor, the circulating pump moving a first fluid from a water circulation inlet to a water circulation outlet by a centrifugal force; and a drain pump, installed on the shaft of the motor, for draining water by a rotational operation of the motor, the drain pump moving a second fluid from a drain inlet to a drain outlet by a frictional force.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is provided with water adsorption accelerator at the exiting end of a water circulation pipe. The water adsorption accelerator, which may be realized as an electrical charger or an ultrasonic wave generator, facilitates the adsorption of water in laundry by processing the re-circulated water before its reintroduction to an outer tub via the water circulation pipe. The drum-type washing machine includes a water discharge pump for circulating water; a tub for containing laundry, the circulating water of the water discharge pump being adsorbed in the laundry; a water circulating pipe, in communication with the tub, for re-circulating the water circulated by the water discharge pump; and a water adsorption accelerator, disposed at one end of the water circulation pipe, for facilitating the adsorption of water in the laundry by processing the re-circulated water before reintroduction to the tub via the water circulation pipe.

Abstract: A washing machine control method accurately determines an amount of laundry in the washing machine, while driving a motor coupled to a drum under load, based on a computed average of pulse width modulation values at the time of stopping the drive of a motor and the motor's rotational angle as the motor freewheels to a stop, in order to conserve water and reduce the time required for performing a washing step.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lift unit for a drum-type washing machine, and a drum-type washing machine comprising the lift unit. The lift unit is protruded from an inner wall of a drum for lifting the laundry in the drum, and comprises a water storage unit formed at at least one side surface of the lift unit for lifting and dropping the wash water when the drum is rotated. The lift unit lifts the wash water to a designated height and then drops the wash water according to the rotation of the drum, thereby circulating the wash water in circumferential and vertical directions of the drum, forming various water currents, and improving washing and rinsing efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drum-type washing machine provided with a plurality of vanes, each including two inclined side surfaces, which are concave, installed at an inner wall of a drum so that the laundry is easily caught on the inclined side surfaces while the caught laundry does not easily slip from the inclined side surfaces, lifted up a certain height by the rotation of the drum, and subsequently drops by its own weight, thereby increasing the agitation of the laundry and size of the contact surfaces of the inclined side surfaces with the laundry and the wash water and improving the washing and rinsing performance of the drum-type washing machine.

Abstract: A lift of a drum-type washing machine is constructed as a tandem-structure lift, which includes outer and inner lift parts. The outer lift is axially installed on an inner circumferential surface of a rotating drum provided with a multitude of water penetration holes, and the inner lift part is provided with an open bottom and perforations throughout its surfaces and is slidingly installed within the outer lift part. The outer lift part has an open top and an open bottom, with the open bottom facing at least a portion of the water penetration holes. Three such lifts, spaced equidistantly around the drum, are typically provided in a drum-type washing machine. As the drum rotates, the inner lift parts protrude, one by one, through the open top of the corresponding outer lift part, causing laundry to fall a greater distance and allowing washing water to spray through the perforations onto the laundry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine having a drying function, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a drying function, in which structures of a circulation duct and a fan/motor assembly are improved for improving a drying function and a productivity of the washing machine having a drying function. The present invention includes an outside case, an outer tub inside of the outside case for storage of washing water, an inner tub inside of the outer tub, a re-circulation duct connected between one side of a lower part of the outer tub and a top of the outer tub for providing a re-circulation passage of air in the inner tub, a fan/motor assembly fitted to the re-circulation duct with a motor shaft positioned horizontal, for blowing the air, and a heater fitted downstream of the fan/motor assembly on the re-circulation duct, for heating the circulating air.

Abstract: A method for controlling the dehydrating operation of a drum type washing machine includes a pre-acceleration step for accelerating a drum to a predetermined control starting speed, and a main accelerating step for accelerating the drum from the control starting speed to a target speed along a linear locus having a preset acceleration slope. A deviation of the center of gravity of the laundry and a pre-spinning time period are reduced in the aforementioned control method.

Abstract: Method for controlling a washing and drying machine, for improving drying performance, and saving energy, the method having a drying cycle for supplying heated air into an inner tub to dry laundry in the inner tub, wherein the drying cycle includes a plurality of drying steps each having the steps of rotating a pulsator for a preset time period, and rotating the inner tub for a preset time period in regular and reverse directions, for enhancing flow of the laundry.

Abstract: In a dehydration control method of a drum washing machine capable of improving reliability of eccentricity sensing by sensing not only forward eccentricity but also diagonal eccentricity by performing eccentricity sensing at a low speed and a high speed respectively, the method includes a first step for accelerating a drum to a first rotational speed when a uniforming process is finished; a second step for measuring first eccentricity when the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed; a third step for comparing the measured first eccentricity with a preset first reference eccentricity; a fourth step for storing the measured first eccentricity when the measured first eccentricity is less than the preset first reference eccentricity in the third step; a fifth step for accelerating the rotational speed of the drum to a second rotational speed and measuring a second eccentricity when it reaches the second rotational speed; a sixth process for comparing the measured second eccentricity with

Abstract: Method for controlling a washing and drying machine, for improving a drying performance, and saving an energy, the method having a drying cycle for supplying heated air into an inner tub to dry laundry in the inner tub, wherein the drying cycle includes a plurality of drying steps each having the steps of rotating a pulsator for a preset time period, and rotating the inner tub for a preset time period in regular and reverse directions, for enhancing flow of the laundry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine having a drying function, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a drying function, in which structures of a circulation duct and a fan/motor assembly are improved for improving a drying function and a productivity of the washing machine having a drying function.