Abstract: A drying device for a washing machine includes a rotatable drum configured to house laundry items; a tub having the drum therein; a driving unit on the tub and connected to the drum, configured to drive the drum; a drying unit configured to store liquid water and circulate air in the drum to remove moisture from the laundry; and a control unit configured to control operations of the drying unit.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a drawer capable of storing soft food items and hard food items in separate spaces. The drawer includes a flexible cover that can be detachably positioned by positioning grooves formed on the top of side walls of the drawer. When in a first position, the flexible cover forms a holder that can be used to hold soft food. When in a second position, the flexible cover is used to cover the open top of the drawer and thereby can preserve freshness of food stored under the flexible cover within the drawer.

Abstract: A washing machine may include an integrated tub/drum configured to hold water, hold laundry, and rotate; a hollow rotary shaft coupled to an end and/or surface of the integrated tub/drum; a water supply pipe and a drain pipe in the integrated tub/drum and through a passage in the hollow rotary shaft; and a partition in the integrated tub/drum that is configured to separate the laundry from the water supply pipe and the drain pipe and that includes a plurality of holes.

Abstract: A mounting unit for a wall-mounted washing machine is disclosed. When the washing machine is on a wall surface, a mounting part of the mounting unit is beyond a frame edge of the mounting unit, thereby a cushion pad of the mounting unit to reduce vibrations and noise from the washing machine. The mounting unit includes a curtain at a frame edge of a body frame such that a gap between the washing machine and the wall surface may be covered by the curtain, thereby stably installing the washing machine, even though the wall surface is not completely flat.

Abstract: A device for fixing or attaching a wall-mounted drum type washing machine having a tub includes: a plurality of anchor bolts configured to be fixed or attached to a wall; a back panel that extends from the tub; a plurality of coupling members at, in and/or on a rear surface of the back panel; and a plurality of shock absorbing members in and/or fastened to the plurality of coupling members, wherein the plurality of anchor bolts passes through the coupling members and the shock absorbing members, fixing or attaching the wall-mounted drum type washing machine to the wall.

Abstract: A method for warning of a residual amount of liquid detergent includes: calculating a total use amount of liquid detergent by adding up a use amount of liquid detergent whenever a washing process is performed; and comparing the total use amount of liquid detergent to a reference amount, and warning of a residual amount of liquid detergent according to the comparison result. Accordingly, a user does not need to frequently check the residual amount of liquid detergent, and may easily fill up a container with the liquid detergent. Furthermore, since a sensor for sensing the residual amount of liquid detergent is not installed, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the washing machine and to prevent a user from getting an electric shock from a current leaking to the container.

Abstract: A washing machine includes: a synchronous motor unit installed at the bottom of a tub; a drain valve housing installed at the bottom of the tub; a link unit disposed between the synchronous motor unit and the drain valve housing; a wire unit having one side connected to the synchronous motor unit and the other side connected to the link unit; a spring member having one side connected to the link unit and the other side connected to the drain valve housing; a clutch lever unit rotatably installed on a clutch base unit and rotated in connected with the movement of the link unit caused by the operation of the synchronous motor unit; a cam lever unit connected to the clutch lever unit; a lift lever unit contacted with the cam lever unit; and a coupling unit engaged with a rotor unit or clutch body unit.

Abstract: A washing machine for washing laundry may include a drum type washing machine having a tub, a drum, a water pressure and/or level sensor, an air flow path, a bubble detecting sensor, and a controller. The bubble detecting sensor may be along the air flow path of the tub in order to detect whether bubbles, suds or foam are generated within the tub and/or whether the bubbles, suds or foam exceed an acceptable amount. When the bubbles within the tub are detected and/or exceed the acceptable amount, the washing machine (e.g., the controller) may perform a preset or predetermined bubble removing course or procedure to remove or reduce the bubbles.

Abstract: Disclosed therein is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body partitioned into a freezing room and a refrigeration room; a refrigerator door for opening and closing the refrigerator main body; pockets mounted on the inner face of the refrigerator door; and a sealing room provided to the pocket for separately storing articles by stopping a flow of cold air of the refrigerator main body.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan for a refrigerator can include a plurality of vanes arranged radially about a central a shaft; a ring-shaped shroud coupled to the vanes and having a curved portion with a predetermined radius or curvature and also having an angled portion with a predetermined gradient or angle relative to the curved portion; and a bottom surface coupled to the vanes on the side opposite the shroud; where a ratio (r/R) of an inner diameter r, which is the shortest distance between the vane and the shaft, and an outer diameter R, which is the longest distance between the vane and the shaft, is approximately 0.69±0.01.

Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator includes measuring temperature or humidity around the refrigerator using a temperature sensor and/or humidity sensor. Further, the method includes controlling a cooling fan to continuously operate or controlling the cooling fan or a heater to turn on for a fraction of a preset period and then turn off for the remainder of the preset period in accordance with the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and/or the humidity measured by the humidity sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vibrations in a washing machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a rotatable drum configured to receive laundry therein; a stationary tub configured to receive and hold water; a cabinet surrounding the tub; a base under the tub, configured to support the tub and/or other components in the washing machine; a plurality of suspension units connected to a lower side of the tub and an upper side of the cabinet, configured to reduce vertical vibrations of the tub; and one or more dampers coupled to the tub and the base.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a power transmission apparatus and a power control apparatus. The power transmission apparatus includes a driving unit, a gear mechanism including an input shaft connected to the driving unit, a reduction assembly coupled to the input shaft to reduce its rotational speed to a preset gear ratio, a washing shaft coupled to the reduction assembly that rotates at the gear ratio, and a water removal assembly selectively connected to the driving unit in a water removal mode for independently rotating from the washing shaft, a coupling unit selectively transmitting a power of the driving unit to the water removal assembly in the water removal mode, and a brake unit selectively forcing the water removal assembly to stop in the water removal mode.

Abstract: A suspension for an automatic washing machine is provided. The suspension includes a main body, a tub having a drum therein coupled to the main body, a snubber bar having one end connected to a cabinet of the washing machine and another end in the main body, a seal at to a lower end of the snubber bar and configured to slide and/or move in the main body, and one or more springs in the main body, configured to apply an elastic force to the seal when the seal slides and/or in the main body, and including at least two sections having different spring constants.

Abstract: A wall-mounted washing machine includes a main body configured to be detachably mounted on a wall, a recess along a peripheral rear surface of the main body and configured to face the wall, and a removable seal in the recess and having a free end configured to contact the wall and block water from outside the washing machine from entering the main body.

Abstract: A microwave oven that includes a power supply and a heating bar connected to the power supply is described. The heating bar is configured to receive an electric current from the power supply, and to apply the current to food. The electric current applied from the heating bar passes through the food thereby heating up the food.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant, a decompressor configured to decompress the condensed refrigerant, an evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant and generate cold air inside the refrigerator, a defrosting flow path including a first end connected to a refrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser, and a second end connected to the refrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator, and a flow path switching valve configured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow path or to the condenser.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration system can include: an evaporator configured to evaporate a first refrigerant; an absorber configured to contain an absorbent solution and absorb the evaporated first refrigerant; a regenerator configured to regenerate the absorbent solution by heating the absorbent solution supplied from the absorber; a condenser configured to condense the first refrigerant evaporated in the regenerator; a cooler configured to circulate a second refrigerant inside the evaporator, where the second refrigerant is cooled in the evaporator by evaporation of the first refrigerant; a hot water storage tank configured to store hot water that is heated by absorbing heat from the absorber and the condenser; one or more hot water consumption units configured to receive the hot water from the hot water storage tank; and one or more cold air consumption units configured to receive cooled second refrigerant from the evaporator via the cooler.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a refrigerator includes a fan motor and a fan motor assembly. The fan motor assembly includes fastening brackets on opposed lateral surfaces or sides of the body or housing of the fan motor, and a fan fastening unit that is attached to the fan motor (e.g., the body or housing) using the fastening brackets, thereby reducing noise and vibration due to operation of the fan motor, enhancing the flow of air around the fan motor, minimizing an installation space of the fan motor, and reducing the manufacturing cost of the fan motor assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method of reducing vibrations in a washing machine, and particularly, to an apparatus and a method of reducing vibrations in a washing machine that may predict a resonance frequency (or vibration generation region) before operating or driving a motor during a washing process to prevent a resonance phenomenon, thereby reducing noise and vibrations in the washing machine. To this end, the apparatus may include a motor configured to transmit rotational force; a motor driving unit configured to output a motor driving signal controlling an operation of the motor; and a filter configured to remove or reject a frequency or band causing a resonance phenomenon of the washing machine and allow another frequency or band to pass through in the motor driving signal output.