Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a tub configured to hold wash water, a drum rotatably supported in the tub and including a shaft disposed perpendicular with the ground, and a sub-drum detachably mounted to the drum and configured to wash laundry independently from the drum. The sub-drum includes a discharging area in which a discharging path is defined to selectively discharge the wash water in the sub-drum by a centrifugal force generated by rotation of the sub-drum. A check valve is included in the discharging area and is configured to selectively open and close the discharging area when acted on by an external force applied by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the sub-drum.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and pumps therefore are provided. In one example aspect, a drain pump for a washing machine appliance includes features for improving pump performance and sand and debris management. The drain pump includes a pump housing and a pump body defining a pump chamber in which an impeller having a disk and blades is rotatably mounted. The pump body has a base defining a pump body recess. An outer rim of the base defines an outer periphery of the pump body recess. The disk is spaced from the outer rim so that sand and debris can be flushed from beneath the impeller. A sloped surface of the outer rim also facilitates removal of sand and debris from beneath the impeller. A labyrinth is defined beneath blades of the impeller to prevent sand and debris from entering an area between a seal and a shaft of the impeller.

Abstract: A drum washing machine comprises a body, a door, an inner drum and a drain channel. The drum is rotatably arranged in the body. A delivery port is on a front portion of the drum, and the door is on a front portion of the body corresponding to the delivery port of the drum. A sealing sleeve is arranged on a portion, corresponding to a periphery of the delivery port, of the inner drum. A sealing connecting piece is arranged at a portion, corresponding to a periphery of the door, of the body, and the sealing connecting piece is connected with the sealing sleeve and rotates relative to the drum; and one end of the drain channel extends into the interior of the sealing connecting piece and communicates with the drum, and the other end of the drain channel communicates with a drain valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine including an inner tub assembly for accommodating laundry, a pulsator rotatably provided to an inner lower portion of the inner tub assembly, a blade installed at a lower portion of the pulsator to be rotatable independently from the pulsator, the blade being configured to pump wash water to raise the wash water to an upper end of the inner tub assembly, a drive motor for providing rotational power to the pulsator and the blade, and a power transmission unit for transmitting power of the drive motor to the pulsator and the blade, respectively.

Abstract: The inner tub of a washing machine comprises a tub body, a balancing ring at the upper part of the tub body and a tub bottom at the lower part of the tub body. An annular necking structure, whose inside diameter is smaller than that of the tub body, is arranged on the tub body and positioned below the balancing ring, a plurality of dewatering holes are distributed at the necking structure and/or between the necking structure and the balancing ring. A disconnected type filtering cover on the internal wall of the tub body and positioned below the necking structure comprises a main body and an auxiliary block, the auxiliary block is arranged above the main body and below the necking structure and is located at the upper part of the inner tub, and a water passing gap is arranged between the auxiliary block and the main body.

Abstract: A drum washing machine is provided. The drum washing machine includes: an outer tank arranged in a housing; a drum, which is arranged in the outer tank and capable of rotating about a horizontal shaft H; a rotating body, which is arranged at a rear part of the drum, a surface of the rotating body being provided with a projection; and a driving part, configured to drive the drum and the rotating body to coaxially rotate at different rotating speeds. The drum has a baffle arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the drum, which is used as a moving unit configured to move the washings in the drum towards the rotating body. The baffle has gathering surfaces for gathering the washings through a rotation of the drum. The gathering surfaces are inclined so that the side of the rotating body is lagged in a rotation direction of the drum.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub for containing washing water, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, a chamber communicating with the tub through a plurality of openings in which washing water is introduced from the tub through at least one of the plurality of openings and the introduced washing water is discharged to the tub through at least one of the remaining openings, and a water quality detector for detecting the quality of washing water in the chamber.

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: A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.

Abstract: A lint filter in a laundry treatment machine includes a lower filter for filtering out debris of washing water and an upper filter for collecting debris as well as filtering out foreign substances of washing water flowed in from the lower filter. Since debris is collected in the upper filter, recontamination by debris can be prevented and cleaning of a lint filter can be simplified. The upper filter and the lower filter are connected by a connection path and as washing water and debris in the lower filter move to the upper filter at the time rising water flows of washing water are generated, debris can be collected inside the upper filter, and debris can be collected by using rising flows of washing water. A filter cover is combined with a filter frame and a filter body as a tightly coupled single body, and the filter cover is detached only from the filter frame while tightly coupled with the filter body, so that attaching and detaching is made simple and cleaning thereof can be simplified.

Abstract: A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.

Abstract: A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.

Abstract: A circular sealing gasket can be interposed between a rear rim of a laundry dryer drum tubular body and a rear wall of the dryer casing. The laundry dryer may also comprise a substantially circular, basin-shaped lid or cover fixed to the rear wall, substantially coaxial to the tubular body, so as to form a cavity on the rear wall that communicates with a hot-air generator. A circular gasket-supporting collar may have a nominal diameter greater than that of the tubular body rear rim. The collar may be fixed to the periphery of the basin-shaped lid or cover and/or to the rear wall, coaxial to the tubular body. The circular sealing gasket can be force fitted into the gasket-supporting collar so as to come in abutment against a periphery of the basin-shaped lid or cover around the perimeter thereof.

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a laundry treating appliance resting on a floor and having a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber that includes creating an imbalance in the drum, rotating the drum at least one predetermined speed, determining an out of balance parameter, determining a floor parameter of the floor based on the out of balance parameter, and setting at least one operating parameter based on the floor parameter.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is disclosed. The drum-type washing machine includes a case formed with an opening part for receiving therethrough laundry to be washed, a door opening and closing the opening part, a tub mounted in the case to receive wash water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, and a path compensation unit disposed at an inner lower end of the tub to facilitate flow of fluid while the drum is rotating. According to this drum-type washing machine, the dehydration efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: An appliance comprises a wash tub and a wash basket in which clothes to be washed are positioned. In one embodiment, the wash basket has a first region that is permeable to the washing fluid and a second region in which washing fluid is retained. The wash basket comprises a first wall that forms an outer shell and in which is disposed a second wall that tapers towards the center axis from the first region to the bottom of the outer shell. The second wall forms an inner or first compartment and an outer or second compartment, which is adjacent to and in flow connection with the first compartment proximate the first region. When implemented in an appliance such as a washing machine, the second wall is configured so that the washing fluid moves from the second region to the first region in response to rotation of the wash basket.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drum type washing machine designed to continuously raise and drop wash water during washing operation to enhance washing efficiency. The drum type washing machine includes a tub to hold wash water, a rotational drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a water raising unit having a plurality of water pockets equipped in a rotating direction of the rotational drum to an inner rear side of the rotational drum to raise and drop the wash water when the rotational drum is rotated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a method of controlling the same that are capable of removing bubbles from a door after washing. The washing machine includes a drum and a door to open and close the drum. The method of controlling the washing machine includes determining whether the present operation is a spin-drying operation, and, when the present operation is the spin-drying operation, supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles from the door.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is disclosed. The drum-type washing machine includes a case formed with an opening part for receiving therethrough laundry to be washed, a door opening and closing the opening part, a tub mounted in the case to receive wash water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, and a path compensation unit disposed at an inner lower end of the tub to facilitate flow of fluid while the drum is rotating. According to this drum-type washing machine, the dehydration efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: A two-tube centrifuge separates light material and heavy material from an input mixture. A hollow drive shaft rotates a central body member about an axis of rotation. Two hollow arm assemblies, each having circular cross-section, are mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the central body. Each arm assembly includes an outer housing tube, an intermediate tube, and an inner tube that is longer than the intermediate tube. An end cap having a removable plug is mounted on the outer end of the housing-tube of each arm assembly. The inner ends of all three tubes are mechanically interlocked in a manner to cantilever mount the inner and intermediate tubes to the central-body with their outer ends spaced from the internal surface of the end cap. An input-mixture path extends through the hollow drive shaft, through the central-body, and into a cylindrical space between the inner and intermediate tubes of each arm assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drum type washing machine and method for removing odor thereof. In the method for removing odor of the drum type washing machine, water is supplied to a drum rotating at high speed and then the water is scattered onto a tub encompassing the drum thus to clean the tub. Accordingly, it is capable of removing the pollutant remaining in the tub, thereby preventing odor from being generated due to rotting of the pollutant. Also, it is capable of preventing odor from being generated due to mold fed on the pollutant in the humid drum type washing machine.

Abstract: A damper assembly and washing machine using the same, by which a damper pin configured to facilitate assembly is provided and by which a damper pin is configured to avoid breaking, are disclosed. The damper assembly includes a base having a first connecting portion, a damper having a second connecting portion at one end and attenuating a vibration transferred to the base, and a damper pin penetrating the first and second connecting portions to secure them, the damper pin having a slip-fit connection with the first and second connecting portions.

Abstract: A washing machine 10 of the drum type comprises a drum 20 rotatable about a horizontal or inclined center of rotation, a drive motor 50 for rotating the drum, liquid holding chambers 36 for holding a liquid therein centrifugally, means for detecting an eccentric load of laundry in the drum, and control means 72 for adjusting the amounts of liquid in the chambers in accordance with the detected eccentric load. The amounts of liquid in the chambers are adjustable by braking the drum in rotation. The machine has moment of inertia measuring means 60 for detecting the rotation of the drum. The control means calculates the moment of inertia acting on the drum based on the rotation of the drum detected by the moment of inertia measuring means, and adjusts the magnitude of braking force to be applied to the drum in accordance with the calculated moment of inertia so as to decelerate the drum at a constant rate in adjusting the amounts of liquid in the chambers.

Abstract: A drum washing machine according to the present invention restrains vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying. For this purpose, a drum 4 is supported so as to be rotatable by rotating shafts 51L and 51R respectively extending in an approximately horizontal direction outward from its end surface walls 41L and 41R. Water storage balancers G are respectively attached to the end surface walls 41L and 41R of the drum 4, and a fluid balancer 9 is further attached to the end surface wall 41L.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating, refreshing or cleaning fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery.

Abstract: A drain pump of a washing machine is cyclically activated during a drain operation conducted as part of a spin cycle in a manner which reduces the run time of the pump. At least one dynamic operating parameter of the washing machine is sensed and used to control the operation of the drain pump. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotational speed of the wash tub is sensed and, when a predetermined spin speed is maintained for a prescribed period of time, the drain operation is initiated. Water level, pump power and/or drive motor torque can also be utilized as pump cycling control parameters.

Abstract: A washing machine including a tub having a helical flow path defined by a channel and a sump located at a lower end of the channel with a dam therein is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a water outlet is located in the sump, and the dam is positioned in the sump upstream from the outlet. The dam, in the exemplary embodiment, is substantially perpendicular to flow path and extends from a tub sidewall to at least beyond the outer perimeter of the water outlet. The dam has a sufficient height to prevent debris heavier than water from flowing from the channel to the outlet during a non-spin portion of a wash cycle, yet is low enough so that when the spin cycle is initiated, the debris will flow over the dam to the outlet.

Abstract: A washing appliance includes a spinner basket having a curved labyrinth ring around its outer surface. The labyrinth ring blocks water from leaving the spinner basket during the washing cycle wherein the basket spins in a first direction. The labyrinth ring permits water to exit the spinner basket when it is rotating in the opposite direction during its spinning cycle.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a washing machine having a simple-structured mechanism for correcting the balance of the drum. In an embodiment of the present invention, plural water-holding chambers are located at the back of the drum around the rotation axis. The water-holding chamber has an opening for introducing water from a water discharge port 15. At the start of an extracting operation, all the water-holding chambers are emptied by rotating the drum at low speed. After that, when the eccentric load due to an uneven distribution of the laundry is greater than an upper limit value, the drum is rotated at a preset speed and a water supply valve is opened. Thus, the water from the water discharge port 15 is supplied into all the water-holding chambers, and the water is held in the water-holding chamber by the centrifugal force.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine with a balancer. This invention provides a washing machine with a balancer, which is capable of improving the balancing capacity of its balancer, preventing the balancer from being damaged due to thermal expansion, and simplifying the manufacture and assembly of the balancer. The washing machine includes an outer tub for accommodating washing water. An inner tub rotatably is mounted in the outer tub for washing and spin-drying the laundry. A balancer is mounted to the inner tub to be opened at its one side. The balancer accommodates water to balance the inner tub. Water supply means supplies washing water to the balancer. A cabinet constitutes the boundary of the washing machine and encloses the components of the washing machine.

Abstract: An improved front loading washing machine and method of wetting clothes in a front loading machine is provided. The balance ring of the machine has a plurality of holes extending 360° around the ring through which water is flowable. A water supply line directs water to the space between the machine tub and spinner, such that the water flows by gravity along the outer surface of the balance ring and then drains or drips through the holes in the balance ring for introduction into the spinner, thereby wetting the clothes in the spinner. With this improved machine, the amount of time required to saturate the clothes in the spinner is minimized, thereby enhancing the washing action on the clothes.