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: A washing machine and a control method thereof are provided, which control a rotational speed of a rotary tub (or revolutions per minute: RPM of a motor) according to a vibration level thereof to attenuate a vibration of the rotary tub. The washing machine includes the rotary tub, the motor, a vibration detecting unit and a control unit. The motor is linked to the rotary tub to be supplied with drive power and rotates the rotary tub. The vibration detecting unit detects the vibration level of the rotary tub using a variation of the drive power supplied to the motor when the motorrotates. The control unit controls a current rotational speed of the motor to be increased, maintained or decreased according to the vibration level of the rotary tub detected by the vibration detecting unit.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided having at least one balancer and a method of manufacturing a balancer thereof is further provided, the method and machine capable of reducing a manufacturing cost and an assembly time, and allowing the balancer assembled to a spin tub to be easily replaced with a new balancer. The balancer applied to the washing machine and the method of manufacturing the balancer of the washing machine are adapted such that a pipe is formed in an annular shape and is assembled to a spin tub, so that a manufacturing cost and an assembly time can be reduced to improve mass productivity. Further, when the balancer is determined to fail after being assembled to the spin tub, the balancer can be rapidly and conveniently replaced with a new balancer, so that material costs can be reduced.

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 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 drum type washing machine includes a cabinet which defines an outer appearance of the washing machine, a water tub set inside the cabinet to contain wash water therein, a rotary tub having spin drying perforations and rotatably set in the water tub, and a water turbine which is mounted at an open front of the rotary tub and rotates along with the rotary tub to spray the wash water contained in the water tub into the rotary tub. The water turbine includes an external member having an annular shape, and an internal member having an annular shape corresponding to the external member. The internal member is arranged apart from the external member by a predetermined interval. A vane unit is set between the external and the internal members, and raises the wash water contained in the water tub and sprays the wash water into the rotary tub.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a cabinet, a fixed drum set in the cabinet to contain wash water therein, a rotary drum rotatably set inside the fixed drum, a pump which forcibly pumps out the wash water contained in the fixed drum, and a water circulation device which feeds the wash water pumped by the pump into the rotary drum in a washing operation. The water circulation device includes a storing unit and a spraying unit. The storing unit defines a space which temporarily holds the wash water pumped by the pump, and is provided between rear panels of the fixed drum and the rotary drum. The storing unit guides the wash water to the rear panel of the rotary drum. The spraying unit is provided at the rear panel of the rotary drum, and sprays the wash water contained in the storing unit into the rotary drum.

Abstract: A drum washing machine, which has a clothes-drying unit with a plurality of heat pipes. The heat pipes recover, during a drying-mode operation of the drum washing machine, heat from high temperature humid air flowing from a water tub, and combine the recovered heat with low temperature dry air flowing from an area around a condensing nozzle, thus saving time and electricity during the drying-mode operation. In the clothes-drying unit, an air duct includes first and second duct parts, having a condensing nozzle installed in the first duct part, and a blower fan and a heater installed in the second duct part. A lower end of the heat pipe is arranged in a lower end of the first duct part, and an upper end of the heat pipe is arranged in an upper end of the first duct part. The heat pipe thus recovers the heat from the air, which flows in the lower end of the first duct part, and combines the recovered heat with the air, which flows in the upper end of the first duct part.

Abstract: A drum washing machine, which has a clothes-drying unit with a plurality of heat pipes. The heat pipes recover, during a drying-mode operation of the drum washing machine, heat from high temperature humid air flowing from a water tub, and combine the recovered heat with low temperature dry air flowing from an area around a condensing nozzle, thus saving time and electricity during the drying-mode operation. In the clothes-drying unit, an air duct includes first and second duct parts, having a condensing nozzle installed in the first duct part, and a blower fan and a heater installed in the second duct part. A lower end of the heat pipe is arranged in a lower end of the first duct part, and an upper end of the heat pipe is arranged in an upper end of the first duct part. The heat pipe thus recovers the heat from the air, which flows in the lower end of the first duct part, and combines the recovered heat with the air, which flows in the upper end of the first duct part.

Abstract: A drum washing machine with a washing water circulation unit adapted to completely dissolve detergent supplied together with washing water and to enhance washing efficiency. During a washing operation, the washing water contained in a fixed drum is raised or drawn to a center portion of a rear panel of a rotatable drum by turning force of the rotatable drum and then sprayed into the rotatable drum through a nozzle. The circulated washing water accelerates the dissolution of the detergent, and the sprayed washing water directly impinges on laundry, thereby shortening the amount of time required to wet the laundry with the washing water. Therefore, the washing efficiency of the drum washing machine can be remarkably enhanced using only a small quantity of the washing water.

Abstract: A drum washing machine with a washing water circulation unit adapted to completely dissolve detergent supplied together with washing water and to enhance washing efficiency. During a washing operation, the washing water contained in a fixed drum is raised or drawn to a center portion of a rear panel of a rotatable drum by turning force of the rotatable drum and then sprayed into the rotatable drum through a nozzle. The circulated washing water accelerates the dissolution of the detergent, and the sprayed washing water directly impinges on laundry, thereby shortening the amount of time required to wet the laundry with the washing water. Therefore, the washing efficiency of the drum washing machine can be remarkably enhanced using only a small quantity of the washing water.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a cabinet, a fixed drum set in the cabinet to contain wash water therein, a rotary drum rotatably set inside the fixed drum, a pump which forcibly pumps out the wash water contained in the fixed drum, and a water circulation device which feeds the wash water pumped by the pump into the rotary drum in a washing operation. The water circulation device includes a storing unit and a spraying unit. The storing unit defines a space which temporarily holds the wash water pumped by the pump, and is provided between rear panels of the fixed drum and the rotary drum. The storing unit guides the wash water to the rear panel of the rotary drum. The spraying unit is provided at the rear panel of the rotary drum, and sprays the wash water contained in the storing unit into the rotary drum.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a cabinet which defines an outer appearance of the washing machine, a water tub set inside the cabinet to contain wash water therein, a rotary tub having spin drying perforations and rotatably set in the water tub, and a water turbine which is mounted at an open front of the rotary tub and rotates along with the rotary tub to spray the wash water contained in the water tub into the rotary tub. The water turbine includes an external member having an annular shape, and an internal member having an annular shape corresponding to the external member. The internal member is arranged apart from the external member by a predetermined interval. A vane unit is set between the external and the internal members, and raises the wash water contained in the water tub and sprays the wash water into the rotary tub.