Abstract: In the initial stage of the dehydrating operation (spin cycle) in a washing machine, operations of rotating the dehydrating tank at a low speed for a predetermined period of time or of stopping the driving motor temporarily when the speed of rotation of the dehydrating tank reaches a predetermined low value are repeated a plurality of times. During this operation, the water contained in the clothes in the dehydrating tank is partly removed and the weight of the load decreased as much. Therefore, in a dehydrating operation in which the tank is rotated at a high speed, the clothes do not have a strong tendency to shift to one side, with the result that little vibration and noise are produced.

Abstract: In a single-tank dehydration-type agitator-operated washing machine, the agitator and the dehydrating tank are driven by respective drive shafts which are operated by a clutch mechanism selectively in such a manner that the drive shafts are selectively rotated in association with each other or independently of each other. A brake band for operating the two drive shafts independently of each other and the clutch mechanism are operated by a lever. In order to positively engage the brake band with the lever, the lever is driven while the drive shafts are being rotated in one direction in association with each other. In order to cause the lever to engage with the brake band with a suitable timing, the brake band is provided with a collar-shaped engagement regulating plate having a cut formed therein.

Abstract: When it is detected that the motor for rotating the agitator of the machine is locked, the motor is turned in the forward direction and/or in the reverse direction a predetermined number of times. If the motor is still locked, an indicating unit is operated to indicate the occurrence of the abnormal condition. When the motor locked by an excessively large quantity of wash and the motor is not unlocked after the motor is turned in the opposite direction, the occurrence of the abnormal condition is indicated by an alarm unit. Therefore, the operator, informed of the presence of the abnormal condition immediately upon its occurrence, can rectify the problem, for instance, by decreasing the size of the washing load.