Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a water tub configured to be disposed in a cabinet and to store wash water, a rotating tub configured to be rotatably installed in the water tub and to include an opening formed in an upper end portion thereof, and a driver configured to be connected to the rotating tub and to rotate the rotating tub, wherein a deviation preventer configured to prevent wash water in the rotating tub from being deviated to one side during rotation of the rotating tub is formed at an upper end portion of the rotating tub.

Abstract: The washing machine includes a tub, a drum, a plurality of balancing units moving along the circumference of a front side or a rear side of the drum in order to reduce imbalance caused by concentration of laundry when the drum rotates, a vibration sensor sensing a vibration amount of the tub, and a controller moving the plurality of balancing units according to the vibration amount of the tub, measured by the vibration sensor. The controller controls a drum motor to rotate the drum at a constant rotation speed, moves the plurality of balancing units in the same rotation direction to minimize the vibration amount of the tub, measured by the vibration sensor, and thereafter moves the plurality of balancing units in different rotation directions to minimize the vibration amount of the tub, measured by the vibration sensor, thereby reducing imbalance.

Abstract: A laundry machine includes a tub, a drum that is rotatably mounted in the tub, and an induction heater that is provided in the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential surface of the drum. The laundry machine also includes a motor that is configured to rotate the drum, a user interface comprising a course selection unit that is configured to allow a user to select a course, and an option selection unit that is configured to allow the user to select option information that is related with the course selected. The laundry machine further includes a processor that is configured to control the drum rotation speed and the induction heater. The course selection unit comprises a wash-drying course that performs heat-spinning by default, the heat-spinning being configured to heat the drum by driving the induction heater when the drum rotates.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus. The method includes applying power to the laundry treating apparatus and inputting an installation inspection command through an input part and performing an installation inspection for inspecting whether the laundry treating apparatus is normally installed when the installation inspection command is inputted. A control part determines whether the inputted installation inspection command is an initial installation inspection command, and wherein, when it is determined that the inputted installation inspection command is not the initial installation inspection command, the control part is configured to determine whether the previous installation and inspection has been properly performed according to an unbalance value stored in a memory, and configured to display the determined result a display part.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and related methods are provided. The washing machine appliance has a wash tub, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a balancing system comprising a plurality of fluid chambers defined in the wash basket. The method includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed. The method also includes receiving, with the balancing system, a first signal from a measurement device and receiving, with the balancing system, a second signal from a controller of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes opening a valve to provide fluid to at least one of the plurality of fluid chambers of the balancing system based on the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine, having an actively movable balancer, and method of controlling the same. The washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a tub; a drum; a balancing unit moving along a circumference of the drum; and a transmission coil provided at the tub, and to generate a magnetic field and transmit power wirelessly to the balancing unit, wherein the balancing unit comprises: a reception coil to generate electric power from the magnetic field formed by the transmission coil; and a position sensing unit to sense the magnetic field formed by the transmission coil and to generate a position signal when the balancing unit passes through the transmission coil.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a balancing apparatus 100 for preventing vibrations and loud running in a drum 1 of a washing machine while operating. The balancing apparatus 100 according to the present invention preferably comprises of at least two half rings 2 and a plurality of propellers 3. The plurality of propellers are attached to the drum 1. The two half rings 2 are configured to cover the drum 1. The propellers 3 and the half rings 2 are magnetically polarized while electric current is passing through the propellers 3 and half rings 2. The drum 1 is balanced by forming similar polarity in poles of the half rings 2 and the poles of the propellers 3 facing each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a front-loading washing machine and an unbalance detection method and device thereof. The method comprises: when a drum operates at a low constant speed, detecting the torque of the drum and acquiring average torque values; when the roller operates at a constant acceleration speed, acquiring average torque values and a minimum value of the average torque values of the drum in real time; determining whether a difference between the average torque and the minimum value of the average torque values is greater than a preset unbalance threshold; and if so, determining that dynamic unbalance occurs on the drum; otherwise determining that no dynamic unbalance occurs on the drum. Because no sensor is needed for unbalance detection, cost and the detection difficulty are lowered, and damages to mechanical components due to collisions caused by dynamic unbalance when the drum operates at a high speed is avoided.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and method of operating a laundry treating appliance that includes wetting the laundry load in a drum according to a selected cycle of operation and determining a magnitude of imbalance of the wetted laundry load. A controller of the laundry treating appliance is configured to determine a first extraction speed for rotating the drum based on the magnitude of imbalance.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes: a washing/dewatering drum for accommodating the washings; an electric motor for driving the washing/dewatering drum to rotate; and a microcomputer. In a rinsing process of a washing operation in a water saving mode, the microcomputer continuously performs a dewatering-rinsing process for a plurality of times rather than executing a water-storage rinsing process for rotating a rotating wing while water stored in the washing/dewatering drum reaches a specified water level. The dewatering-rinsing process includes: a water supplying process of supplying water to the washing/dewatering drum so that the washings are saturated by water, and an intermediate dewatering process or a final dewatering process executed immediately after the water supplying process. A maximum rotating speed of the motor in the intermediate dewatering process immediately before the water supplying process is lower than a maximum rotating speed in the final dewatering process.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, agitating articles within the tub for a first period, the tub containing the volume of liquid, and measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The movement is measured as one or more displacement amplitudes using an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold, and spinning a basket after draining liquid from the tub.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing displacement of a washing machine having a drum rotatable about an axis of rotation is disclosed. The washing machine comprises a chassis and a motor for rotation a drum. The drum is suspended from the chassis by a suspension. The suspension can comprise springs having six natural frequencies that can resonate at a rotational speed of the drum driven by the motor. The suspension system can be tuned such that resonant frequencies can be varied based upon rotational speed of the drum.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method includes sensing a first unbalance amount of a drum in which laundry is received while rotating the drum at a first rotational velocity, sensing a second unbalance amount of the drum while accelerating the drum to a second rotational velocity, when the first unbalance amount is allowed, and accelerating the drum to a target rotational velocity, when the second unbalance amount is allowed.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance has a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment according to at least one cycle of operation and operated such that the extraction of liquid from the laundry load is controlled based on the inertia of the laundry load. A method for operating the laundry treating appliance to control the liquid extraction based on the detected inertia.

Abstract: A method controls a laundry washing machine (1) including: a casing (2), a washing tub (3) arranged within the casing (2), a rotatable laundry drum (4) which is mounted inside the washing tub (3) and is designed to contain laundry (10), a water-detergent supply system (5,6) designed to supply wash water and detergent into the washing tub (3), and a motor assembly to rotate the laundry drum (4).

Abstract: A washing machine having a balancer and a control method thereof which achieve correct communication between a controller and a balancing module such that a balancing module is correctly shifted to a target position. The control method of the washing machine includes measuring a first time between position detection time points of the balancing modules during rotation of the rotary tub when the plurality of balancing modules is in a static mode, measuring a second time between position detection time points of the balancing modules during rotation of the rotary tub when any one of the balancing modules is shifted by a predetermined distance through a movement command, and confirming a relationship between a module ID of any one of the balancing modules and a communication ID of the movement command through a relative variation of the second time with respect to the first time.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an imbalance in the laundry load and effecting a redistribution of the imbalance by reducing the rotational speed of the treating chamber such that part of the load may redistribute while part of the load remains satellized, without ceasing rotation, and increasing the rotational speed back to a spin speed after redistribution.

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine which may include a cabinet that defines an accommodation space, a washing device configured to be withdrawn from the accommodation space of the cabinet, and a front panel provided in front of the washing device that defines a front external appearance of the auxiliary washing machine. The washing device may include a drawer configured to be slidably inserted or withdrawn from the accommodation space of the cabinet, the drawer including a tub for wash water, a rotating drum assembly provided in the drawer, the rotating drum assembly having a drum and a rotating shaft connected to the drum and extending through the tub, and a motor provided below the drawer and connected to the rotating shaft to rotate the drum.

Abstract: A washing machine is capable of determining whether measured vibration has been caused by noise or by rotation of the inner tub. The washing machine measures vibration occurring during rotation of the inner tub and performs control operation to address causes of vibration or prevent the washing machine from toppling in the case that the vibration has actually been caused by rotation of the inner tub.

Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus including a cabinet forming an appearance of the apparatus, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, a housing fixed to the drum, an accommodation space defined within the housing forming a closed loop, a balancing unit movably disposed in the accommodation space, and a housing power line provided at an inner circumferential surface of the housing to supply power to the balancing unit, wherein the balancing unit includes a unit body, a motor for moving the unit body, a brush contacting the housing power line, and a power terminal housing fixed to the unit body and having a space in which the brush is removably installed.

Abstract: A method operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation and a ball balance ring mounted to the rotatable drum and defining an internal raceway in which a plurality of balls are located, where the method includes rotating the drum at or above a satellizing speed, determining positions of the plurality of balls, and accelerating the rotational speed of the drum based on the determined positions of the plurality of balls.

Abstract: A sensor device to measure a force or pressure in a washing handling apparatus includes a light source, a light receiver, a light-reflecting surface that reflects light emitted by the light source toward the light receiver, and one or more spring elements that biases the light-reflecting surface into a predefined initial position with respect to the light source and the light receiver where the light-reflecting surface is disposed to be displaceable with respect to the light source and the light receiver in response to application of an external force or pressure against a resetting force of the one or more spring elements.

Abstract: A dishwasher method and apparatus providing an algorithm varying the speed of the recirculation pump that recirculates washing liquor present in the washing compartment so as to assure quiet pump operation is disclosed. The speed of the recirculation pump is varied by a control device that carries out the washing cycle. A true-running monitoring unit checks the operation of the recirculation pump. During a fill phase of the washing cycle, an inlet valve is opened, the recirculation pump is switched on and the algorithm provides stepped variation of the recirculation speed using a default value step, a test step in which a true running check is performed, and a modification step in which the default value is modified in response to the result of the test step, for use in the next iteration of the algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing laundry in a laundry processing device (110) comprising a drum (112) that is rotatably mounted on a support so as to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis. The method comprises recording, while the laundry is being processed, a signal that is correlated to the interaction between the drum (112) and the laundry (114), and that exhibits a variation caused by the rotation of the drum (112); on the basis of the signal and a desired process result, determining a target rotary speed of the drum (112); and adjusting the rotary speed of the drum (112) to the target rotary speed. Further, the invention relates to a laundry processing device capable of performing the method.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating a laundry load according to at least one cycle of operation and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance to control the rotation of the drum to distribute the laundry load with an acceptable amount of imbalance such that the laundry treating appliance may be operated in an effective and efficient manner.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is introduced to provide a new and robust alternative design for linear magnetorheological (MR) brakes, i.e. MR-brakes. The novel embodiments herein combines a serpentine flux path concept to eliminate conventional piston-cylinder arrangements and as a beneficial result when coupled with the linear brake embodiment disclosed herein, significantly reduce off-state friction and facilitates such devices to provide longer stroke length (i.e., infinite stroke lengths) beyond that as provided in conventional systems. The present linear brake embodiments disclosed herein thus provides, for example, for a ratio of the off-state friction force to the maximum force output at about 3% compared to 10% up to about 27% for similar conventional/commercial brake mechanisms. At the same time, the compactness is beneficially improved be being about half the size of a commercially available product.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Patent_2939952_Fig5.gif.

Abstract: A washing machine for washing laundry is provided. The washing machine includes a tub to hold washing water, a drum in the tub to hold laundry, a rotational shaft connected to a rear surface of the drum, a tub back, which forms a rear side of the tub and through which the rotational shaft passes, a bearing housing that supports the rotational shaft, and a suspension that buffers and supports the bearing housing. A vibration sensor senses vibration of a structure supported by the suspension, thereby enabling control of rotation of the drum based on the sensed vibration.

Abstract: A control method of a laundry machine is disclosed. The control method of a laundry machine comprising a balancer includes an unbalance sensing step, wherein the unbalance sensing step recognizes an unbalancemaximum value and an unbalanceminimum value of an unbalance wave and the unbalance sensing step determines an average value of the two unbalance maximumvalue and unbalanceminimum value to be of the unbalance generated in a drum provided in the laundry machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting and preventing a cabinet strike event in a washing machine appliance are provided. An exemplary method includes ramping a target speed of a motor from a first speed to a second speed over a ramping period. The method includes computing an average deviation of an observed speed of the motor from the target speed over the ramping period. The method includes computing an average power consumption by the motor over the ramping period. The method includes determining whether both the average deviation is greater than a first threshold value and the average power consumption is greater than a second threshold value. The method includes rebalancing the load if both the average deviation is greater than a first threshold value and the average power consumption is greater than a second threshold value. The method includes performing one or more standard operations if both conditions are not satisfied.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a drum, defining a treating chamber, with a lifter and a balancing system having at least one balancing ring and a reservoir located in the lifter and a liquid supply system fluidly coupled to the reservoir. Liquid may be supplied to the ring and to the reservoir through the ring to offset an imbalance in a laundry load located within the drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) that comprises a tub (2), a cylindrical drum (3) having a rear wall (7) wherein the items to be washed are emplaced, disposed coaxially inside the tub (2), one or more ribs (4) arranged on the inner periphery of the drum (3) and forming protrusions into the drum (3), a shaft (8) housed in the tub (2) that transfers the movement to the drum (3) and a bearing (9) situated at the center of the tub (2) rear wall (7), remaining stationary together with the tub (3), wherein the shaft (8) is housed, extending towards the center of the drum (3) and at least one water feeding line (10) situated inside the bearing (9) having an inlet connected to the mains water supply and an outlet opening outside the bearing (9).

Abstract: A laundry appliance having a perforated rotatable drum for spin dehydrating a wet textile load, an electric motor for providing an accelerating force which in use causes the drum to rotate, load sensors for detecting any static dynamic imbalance in the rotation of the drum, and a controller which receives inputs from the load sensors and is programmed to, in a spin-up phase, energize said electric motor so as to evenly distribute the load within the drum and thereby minimize any static or dynamic imbalance when the drum rotates.

Abstract: A washing machine which improves performance of balancers, and a control method thereof. The washing machine includes a drum accommodating laundry and rotated by rotary force transmitted from a drive source, balancer housings mounted on the drum, each of the balancer housings including a disc-shaped channel formed therein, balancing modules movably disposed in the channels of the balancer housings, vibration sensors to sense unbalance applied to the drum during rotation of the drum, position sensors to sense the positions of the balancing modules, and a controller controlling movement of the balancing modules to positions to compensate for the unbalance sensed by the vibration sensors.

Abstract: A vibration control device for a washing machine is composed of a drum to house laundry, a washing tank to house the drum which is suspended by a chassis of the washing machine, a drum driving motor, an acceleration detecting unit to detect an acceleration in the horizontal direction of the washing tank, a linear actuator fixed to the chassis of the washing machine to generate a driving force in the horizontal direction to the chassis of the washing machine, a force transmitting unit to connect a movable axis of the linear actuator with the washing tank, and a control unit to control the driving force of the linear actuator based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting unit. The force transmitting unit transmits the driving force and absorbs mechanistically relative displacement in the back and forth direction and in the up and down direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method includes sensing a first unbalance amount of a drum in which laundry is received while rotating the drum at a first rotational velocity, sensing a second unbalance amount of the drum while accelerating the drum to a second rotational velocity, when the first unbalance amount is allowed, and accelerating the drum to a target rotational velocity, when the second unbalance amount is allowed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an unbalance condition in a laundry treating appliance having a rotating drum based on the rotational speed of the drum.

Abstract: A method of sensing the motion of the wash assembly (3) of a washing machine (1) due to the dynamic unbalance of the laundry drum assembly (6), and which comprises the steps of: increasing the rotation speed (?) of a laundry drum (6) to a first rotation speed (?DIST); determining a first parameter (TFRICTION; AHFREF) related to the time pattern of the values of an unbalance function A=T?Jd?/dt; increasing the rotation speed (?) of the laundry drum (6) by a predetermined value (??) determining, at each increase (??) in rotation speed (?), a second parameter (ALF; AHF) related to the time pattern of the values of the unbalance function A=T?Jd?/dt filtered at the predetermined filtration frequency (LF; HF); calculating the difference (TdynLF; TdynHF) between the second parameter (ALF; AHF) and the first parameter (TFRICTION; AHFREF).

Abstract: Disclosed are a washing machine and a method of controlling spin-drying of the washing machine. The method changes the acceleration gradient of the drum passing a resonance point, i.e., the resonance point passing gradient of the drum, when the imbalance of the laundry due to the excessive vibration of the tub is sensed when passing a resonance point region (generally within 100 RPM, approximately 50˜80 RPM, after the entry into the spin-drying cycle) in the spin-drying cycle. Thus the position of the balancer is changed according to the imbalance of the laundry.

Abstract: A device to capture the relative position of a component (14) of which the position can change relative to a reference component (12) of a washing handling device (10), in particular a washing machine or drier, includes at least one light source (34, 38, 42), at least one light receiver (36, 40, 44), a light-reflecting surface (50, 52), which reflects light which the light source (34, 38, 42) emits to the light receiver (36, 40, 44). The device is designed to capture the present relative position of the changeable-position component (14) relative to the reference component (12), according to the reflected light which the light receiver (36, 40, 44) captures.

Abstract: A damper includes a bobbin which is housed in a cylinder and on which a coil is wound and yokes housed in the cylinder. At least one of the yokes is disposed at a first axial side of the bobbin, and at least one other of the yokes is disposed at a second axial side of the bobbin. A magnetic viscous fluid is retained on inner surfaces of the yokes and an inner surface of the bobbin. Sealing members are configured to prevent leakage of the magnetic viscous fluid. A shaft extends through the yokes, the bobbin and the sealing members and is configured to be axially reciprocable relative to the yokes, the bobbin and the sealing members such that reciprocation of the shaft does not substantially displace the magnetic viscous fluid. The coil, the bobbin and the yokes are fixed together by a resin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an out of balance condition for a washing machine are disclosed. The wash basket of the washing machine is rotated at a constant predetermined rotational speed. If the washing machine has an unbalanced load, the wash tub will strike the cabinet as the basket rotates in the wash tub. The tub strikes cause the wash basket to lose momentum. The inverter drive control system causes the inverter to provide more current through the motor phases to the motor to maintain constant speed. From the value of the current, the severity of the tub strikes during a test period can be determined. An out of balance condition can be detected and measured based at least in part on the severity of the tub strikes.

Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus including a rotatable drum in which laundry is stored, at least three balancers mounted to the drum so as to be spaced apart from one another by the same angle around a rotation center of the drum. Liquid is introduced into and discharged from the balancers via a feeder supplying the liquid and a flow path structure mounted to the drum to guide liquid supplied from the feeder to the balancer located in a direction for removal of unbalance of the drum.

Abstract: A damper obtaining damping force by the frictional resistance imparted by the viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid is disclosed. The damper is provided with a seal not only on one (lower side) of the axial outer sides of the yoke but also on the other (upper side) of the axial outer sides of the yoke to trap the magnetic viscous fluid within the magnetic viscous fluid filling portion at both axial outer sides of magnetic viscous fluid filling portion. Because the leakage of the magnetic viscous fluid can be prevented, no air is introduced into the magnetic viscous fluid filling portion, to allow the density of the magnetic viscous fluid within magnetic viscous fluid filling portion to be maintained at a favorable level and prevent degradation of damping force.

Abstract: A laundry treatment device includes a housing, a container suspended in the housing in an oscillating manner, and a detecting unit for detecting one of the position and the arrangement of the container in the housing. The detecting unit includes a magnetic field-generator that generates a magnetic field; and a magnetic field detector for detecting a magnetic flux density of the magnet field and for determining a direction of field lines of the magnet field.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a washing machine including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub. The control system includes a plurality of supports including two diagonally arranged supports. The plurality of supports are configured to support the washing machine on a surface. At least one load sensor is positioned with respect to each support of the two diagonally arranged supports. The at least one load sensor is configured to detect at least one force component applied to each support by a load within the wash basket. The at least one load sensor is further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one force component. A controller is in signal communication with the at least one load sensor. The controller is configured to detect an operating load placement condition within the wash basket in response to at least one signal received from the at least one load sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a laundry treatment machine and a method of operating the same. The method of operating a laundry treatment machine includes rotating a drum at a first velocity, forcibly vibrating the drum using a forced vibration generation signal during a first velocity rotating section, and determining whether to accelerate or decelerate the drum after forced vibration. Through this method, laundry position may be determined.

Abstract: A washing machine and a control method thereof, capable of reducing noise by performing a zero-current control during the braking of a motor, and checking whether a vibration sensor is installed on a tub in a weight detection state in the beginning of a spin-drying. The zero-current control is performed by driving a current regulator with a command current set to “0 A”, so that the current flowing at the motor decreases and thus noise is reduced. In a washing machine having a vibration sensor fixedly attached to a tub, a fixation state of the vibration sensor with respect to the tub is checked in advance by use of measurement data of the vibration sensor at a weight detection stage in the beginning of the spin drying so that the frame touch caused by an erroneous detection of vibration or a failure of vibration detection may be prevented.

Abstract: Methods and systems that detect high resonance frequencies as a laundering device (e.g., a washer or dryer) is in a spin cycle, and avoids those frequencies, as well as a band around those frequencies (e.g., 75 rpm on either side of the resonant frequency), in subsequent spin cycles, is described. Aspects of the invention also provide for detecting whether the setup of the laundering device has changed (e.g., resulting from a change in physical location or setup), and provides for the recalibration of a resonance frequency or known high vibration speed when a new setup is detected. Aspects of the invention recognize that solutions to minimize vibration are unnecessary. It is not necessary to optimize or minimize vibration in order for a laundry device to work properly, but rather it is sufficient to ensure that the laundry device does not spin the drum at a speed that causes excessive vibration.

Abstract: A washing machine is capable of determining whether measured vibration has been caused by noise or by rotation of the inner tub. The washing machine measures vibration occurring during rotation of the inner tub and performs control operation to address causes of vibration or prevent the washing machine from toppling in the case that the vibration has actually been caused by rotation of the inner tub.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is disclosed, in which bearings are received in the bearing housing assembly. The bearing housing assembly may include a support portion coupled to a motor, and a coupling portion connected to a damper bracket.