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 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 comprising an annular shaped race formed of a plastic material.

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 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 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 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 that has at least one balancer that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports are integrally molded to the first housing at predetermined intervals along at least a first wall of the first housing.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine having a balancer to prevent a reduction in the washing capacity of a rotating drum while preventing a collision noise of balls installed in the balancer. The diameter of the balls is maintained in a range of 12 millimeters to 30 millimeters, so as to prevent a collision noise of the balls during rotation of the rotating drum while preventing a reduction in the washing capacity of the rotating drum.

Abstract: A washing machine that has at least one balancer that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports are integrally molded to the first housing at predetermined intervals along at least a first wall of the first housing.

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 that has at least one balancer that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports are integrally molded to the first housing at predetermined intervals along at least a first wall of the first housing.

Abstract: A washing machine that has at least one balancer that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports are integrally molded to the first housing at predetermined intervals along at least a first wall of the first housing.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided that has at least one balancer that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports are continuously formed along and perpendicular to the opposite walls of the first housing, or are disposed parallel to the opposite walls of the first housing at regular intervals.

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 is a method of controlling a ball balancer of a washing machine. The method includes variously setting sensing time corresponding to a plurality of water temperature ranges to detect an unbalanced mass, detecting imbalance of laundry and a laundry volume based on a water temperature, which is measured in real time, and the preset sensing time when an optional dehydration mode starts and performing a dehydration process.

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: 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 drum type washing machine having a balancer to prevent a reduction in the washing capacity of a rotating drum while preventing a collision noise of balls installed in the balancer. The diameter of the balls is maintained in a range of 12 millimeters to 30 millimeters, so as to prevent a collision noise of the balls during rotation of the rotating drum while preventing a reduction in the washing capacity of the rotating drum.