Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of increasing a frictional force between an outer diameter of a rotary shaft and an inner race of a bearing to prevent the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing due to a gap between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing, thereby preventing creep noise from the rotary shaft. The washing machine includes at least one elastic member disposed between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing to prevent noise due to the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing.

Abstract: A method of controlling a washing machine, capable of detecting clothes contained in the washing machine by rotating a drum. The method includes supplying a predetermined amount of water when a barrel cleaning is executed, soaking an interior of a drum in water, draining water after the interior of the drum has been soaked in the water, and detecting clothes contained in the drum by rotating the drum. Whether to perform a barrel cleaning is determined according to the existence of the clothes in the drum, so that vibration and noise are prevented from being generated in the washing machine, and accident due to the movement of the washing machine is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of increasing a frictional force between an outer diameter of a rotary shaft and an inner race of a bearing to prevent the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing due to a gap between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing, thereby preventing creep noise from the rotary shaft. The washing machine includes at least one elastic member disposed between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing to prevent noise due to the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing.

Abstract: A drum washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub located within the cabinet, a drum rotatably located within the tub, and a drive unit to rotate the drum, and the drive unit includes a motor, a shaft provided with one end defined as a first point and combined with a rotor of the motor and the other end defined as a second point and combined with the drum and transmitting power of the motor to the drum, first and second bearings located between the first and second points, a first groove provided between the first bearing and the second point to prevent damage to the shaft, and a bushing surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface of the shaft to surround the contour of the first groove.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a housing, a rotating spin tub to hold laundry to be washed and a ball balancer coupled to the spin tub to compensate for a dynamic imbalance during rotation thereof. The ball balancer includes a first plastic member and a second plastic member joined to each other to form a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous fluid are accommodated, the first plastic member includes a first side wall, a second side wall and a connecting wall to form a three-sided annular-shaped structure having an open side, and the second plastic member is adapted to cover the open side of the first plastic member. A diameter of each of the balls is smaller than a depth of the three-sided annular-shaped structure measured from the connecting wall to a top of the first side wall.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a housing, a spin tub, and a ball balancer coupled to the spin tub, the ball balancer including a first plastic member and a second plastic member joined to each other to form an annular-shaped race, the first plastic member including a first side wall, a second side wall and a connecting wall to form a three-sided annular-shaped structure having an open side, and the second plastic member adapted to cover the open side, the three-sided annular-shaped structure having a U-shaped cross-section with a first rounded inside corner formed between the first side wall and the connecting wall and a second rounded inside corner formed between the second side wall and the connecting wall. A radius of curvature of each of the first and second rounded inside corners is greater than a radius of curvature of opposite diagonal inside corners of the annular-shaped race.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine, including a housing, a spin tub to hold laundry to be washed, the spin tub rotating with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine, and a ball balancer coupled to the spin tub to compensate for a dynamic imbalance during rotation thereof, the ball balancer including a first plastic member and a second plastic member joined to each other to define a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous fluid are accommodated, the first plastic member having an open side, and the second plastic member adapted to cover the open side of the first plastic member. The first plastic member includes a plurality of supports formed on an outer surface thereof to establish contact with the spin tub, and the ball balancer is fastened to the spin tub via a plurality of screw members.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a washing tub disposed in the cabinet, a detergent supply device to supply detergent to the washing tub, a valve housing, having valve devices to control water supply, connected to the detergent supply device, a coupling pipe coupled to a water supply hose outside the cabinet to guide water into the cabinet, and a connection pipe to connect the valve housing to the coupling pipe, wherein the valve housing is directly coupled to the detergent supply device, and the connection pipe is fixed to the valve housing and the coupling pipe.

Abstract: A front loading washing machine including a housing; a water reservoir installed in the housing to contain washing water; a spin tub provided in the water reservoir to hold laundry to be washed, the spin tub rotatable with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine, the spin tub including a cylindrical body, a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover having a front wall with an opening formed therein for receiving laundry and an annular recess having a predefined depth formed in the front wall of the front cover such that an outer annular side wall defining the annular recess establishes direct physical contact with a predefined area of an inner surface of the cylindrical body; and at least one balancer installed in the annular recess of the spin tub, the balancer comprising an annular shaped race formed of a plastic material.

Abstract: A front loading washing machine including a housing; a water reservoir installed in the housing for containing washing water; a spin tub provided in the water reservoir to hold laundry to be washed, the spin tub having an annular recess and rotating with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine; and at least one balancer installed in the annular recess of the spin tub, the balancer having a plastic annular shaped housing that defines a closed internal space.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes an annular recess formed in the front cover such that the annular recess is located immediately adjacent to a wall of the drum body; and a ball balancer including an annular-shaped racer having a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous oil are accommodated. The annular-shaped racer includes first and second injection molded members joined to each other to form the closed internal space. The ball balancer is supported by the annular recess formed in the front cover of the drum, and the ball balancer is configured to be attachable to the drum with the viscous oil and the plurality of balls already in the ball balancer.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a balancer capable of rapidly reducing vibration of a spin tub. The drum type washing machine includes a spin tub which is rotated by receiving rotational force from a driving motor through a rotating shaft, a rear balancer having an annular shape and being coupled to the spin tub, and a shaft flange provided at a center portion thereof with the rotating shaft and coupled to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub. The rear balancer is supported on a rear surface of a rear cover by the shaft flange. Thus, the balls accommodated in the balancer are prevented from moving out of the balancer, even if the balancer is broken due to long-period use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine having ball balancers, which adjust a relation between a gap, between the inner wall of a racer of each of the ball balancers and balls, and viscous oil, so as to reduce the vibration and noise of the washing machine. Each of the ball balancers of the washing machine includes balls and viscous oil accommodated in a racer, and the viscosity of the viscous oil is varied in proportion to a gap between the racer and the balls. When the viscosity of the viscous oil is 1˜100 cSt, the gap is set to 0.5˜1.0 mm, when the viscosity of the viscous oil is 100˜380 cSt, the gap is set to 1.0˜2.0 mm, and when the viscosity of the viscous oil is 380˜1,000 cSt, the gap is set to 2.0˜3.0 mm. Thereby, the relation between the gap and the viscous oil is optimized, and the ball balancers effectively exhibit a balancing function and thus minimize the vibration and noise of the washing machine.

Abstract: A washing machine having a ball balancer coupled to the drum to compensate for a dynamic imbalance during rotation of the drum, the ball balancer including a ring-shaped racer having a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous oil are accommodated, the ring-shaped racer including a first injection molded member and a second injection molded member joined to each other to form the closed internal space, the first injection molded member including a first side wall, a second side wall and a connecting wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, the first injection molded member having an open side opposite to the connecting wall, and the second injection molded member is adapted to cover the open side of the first injection molded member.

Abstract: A drain hose has a simple structure which absorbs vibration of a drain pump, and a washer has the same. The washer includes a main body, a drain pump disposed at the lower portion of the main body, a drain hose to guide wash water pumped by the drain pump to the outside of the main body, and an anti-vibration member formed of a material differing from the drain hose, and including a corrugation part connected between the drain pump and the drain hose and absorbing vibration of the drain pump during drainage of the wash water.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a balancer capable of rapidly reducing vibration of a spin tub. The drum type washing machine includes a spin tub which is rotated by receiving rotational force from a driving motor through a rotating shaft, a rear balancer having an annular shape and being coupled to the spin tub, and a shaft flange provided at a center portion thereof with the rotating shaft and coupled to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub. The rear balancer is supported on a rear surface of a rear cover by the shaft flange. Thus, the balls accommodated in the balancer are prevented from moving out of the balancer, even if the balancer is broken due to long-period use.

Abstract: A front loading washing machine including a housing; a water reservoir installed in the housing to contain washing water; a spin tub provided in the water reservoir to hold laundry to be washed, the spin tub rotatable with respect to a horizontal axis of the washing machine, the spin tub including a cylindrical body, a front cover and a rear cover, the front cover having a front wall with an opening formed therein for receiving laundry and an annular recess having a predefined depth formed in the front wall of the front cover such that an outer annular side wall defining the annular recess establishes direct physical contact with a predefined area of an inner surface of the cylindrical body; and at least one balancer installed in the annular recess of the spin tub, the balancer comprising an annular shaped race formed of a plastic material.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a balancer capable of rapidly reducing vibration of a spin tub. The drum type washing machine includes a spin tub which is rotated by receiving rotational force from a driving motor through a rotating shaft, a rear balancer having an annular shape and being coupled to the spin tub, and a shaft flange provided at a center portion thereof with the rotating shaft and coupled to the spin tub so as to uniformly transfer the rotational force to the spin tub. The rear balancer is supported on a rear surface of a rear cover by the shaft flange. Thus, the balls accommodated in the balancer are prevented from moving out of the balancer, even if the balancer is broken due to long-period use.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub to contain water and a drum rotatably installed within the tub. The drum includes a cylindrical body and a front member made of resin, provided with a disc-shaped race formed therein and covering the front surface of the body. The race of the front member and a mass body in the race function as a balancer.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a washing tub disposed in the cabinet, a detergent supply device to supply detergent to the washing tub, a valve housing, having valve devices to control water supply, connected to the detergent supply device, a coupling pipe coupled to a water supply hose outside the cabinet to guide water into the cabinet, and a connection pipe to connect the valve housing to the coupling pipe, wherein the valve housing is directly coupled to the detergent supply device, and the connection pipe is fixed to the valve housing and the coupling pipe.