Method of controlling rinsing process of washing machine

Abstract

A method of controlling a rinsing operation of a washing machine having a pulsator to wash laundry, the method includes a wrinkle prevention rinsing process. During the wrinkle prevention rinsing process, the pulsator is stopped for a pulsator stopping time which is set to be longer than a pulsator driving time, thereby forming wrinkle preventing water flows to minimize wrinkles in the laundry. The wrinkle preventing rinsing process may be performed before a final spin-drying operation is performed. The wrinkle preventing rinsing process may be performed after a general rinsing process, which is performed at least once. The wrinkle preventing rinsing process may be performed for a wrinkle preventing rinsing time that is set to be longer than a general rising time for the general rinsing process.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of controlling a rinsing operation of a washing machine having a pulsator to wash laundry, the method comprising performing a wrinkle prevention rinsing process which includes: 
 driving the pulsator for a pulsator driving time; and    stopping the pulsator for a pulsator stopping time, wherein: 
 the pulsator stopping time is longer than the pulsator driving time, and  
 the driving and stopping of the pulsator generate wrinkle preventing water flows which minimize wrinkles in the laundry.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wrinkle preventing rinsing process is performed before performing a final spin-drying operation of the washing machine.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the wrinkle preventing rinsing process is performed after performing at least one operation of a general rinsing process of the rinsing operation.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the wrinkle preventing rinsing process is performed for a wrinkle preventing rinsing time, and    the wrinkle preventing rinsing time is set to be longer than a general rinsing time for the general rinsing process.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the pulsator driving time is shorter than a general pulsator driving time for the general rinsing process, and    the pulsator stopping time is longer than a general pulsator stopping time for the general rinsing process.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the general rinsing process of the rinsing operation comprises: 
 discharging wash water contained in the washing machine;    spin-drying the laundry to remove the wash water absorbed into the laundry; and    rinsing the laundry by rotating the laundry, in new wash water, in opposite directions.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rinsing operation is performed after a washing operation of the washing machine.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving and stopping of the pulsator in the wrinkle prevention rinsing process is performed more than once.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving and stopping of the pulsator in the wrinkle prevention rinsing process disentangles the laundry and allows a fabric of the laundry to absorb wash water contained in the washing machine.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the performing of the wrinkle prevention rinsing process further includes: 
 discharging wash water contained in the washing machine;    spin-drying the laundry to remove the wash water absorbed into the laundry; and    supplying new wash water to the washing machine, wherein the driving of the pulsator rotates the laundry, in the new wash water, in opposite directions.    
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a pulsator to wash laundry, the method comprising performing one or more driving and stopping operations of the pulsator, wherein: 
 the stopping operation of the pulsator is longer than the driving operation of the pulsator, and    the driving and stopping of the pulsator generate wrinkle preventing wash water flows of wash water contained in the washing machine and disentangle the laundry.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the wrinkle preventing wash water flows minimize wrinkles in the laundry, and    the stopping of the pulsator allows a fabric of the laundry to absorb wash water contained in the washing machine.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the performing of the one or more driving and stopping operations of the pulsator is performed before performing a final spin-drying operation of the washing machine.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the performing of the one or more driving and stopping operations of the pulsator is performed after performing a general rinsing operation of the washing machine.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the driving of the pulsator is shorter than a driving pulsator operation of the general rinsing operation, and    the stopping of the pulsator is longer than a stopping pulsator operation of the general rinsing operation.    
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a washing machine having a pulsator to wash laundry, the method comprising: 
 performing a washing operation of the washing machine to wash the laundry;    performing one or more rinsing operations of the washing machine to rinse the laundry;    performing a wrinkle prevention operation, wherein the wrinkle prevention operation comprises: 
 one or more operations of driving and stopping the pulsator, wherein: 
 the stopping of the pulsator is longer than the driving of the pulsator, and  
 the driving and stopping of the pulsator allow a fabric of the laundry to absorb wash water contained in the washing machine and generate wrinkle preventing wash water flows of the wash water; and  
 
   performing a spin-drying operation of the washing machine to spin-dry the laundry.    
     
     
         17 . A washing machine to wash laundry, comprising: 
 a water tub having a wash tub rotatably disposed therein;    a pulsator which rotates the wash tub;    a wash motor which drives the pulsator; and    a control unit which controls driving and stopping of the pulsator, wherein the control unit generates wrinkle preventing wash water flows of wash water contained in the washing machine by stopping the pulsator for a longer period of time than driving the pulsator to disentangle the laundry.    
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the control unit generates the wrinkle preventing wash water flows after a general rinsing operation of the washing machine and before a final spin-drying operation of the washing machine.  
     
     
         19 . The washing machine according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a function selection unit which selects a washing function of the washing machine;    a temperature sensor unit which senses a temperature of the wash water supplied to the water tub;    a water level detecting unit which detects a water level of the water tub;    a weight detecting unit which detects a weight of the laundry; and    a rotation number detecting unit which detects a rotation number of the wash motor, wherein the control unit communicates with the function selection, temperature sensor, water level detecting, weight detecting, and rotation number detecting units.    
     
     
         20 . The washing machine according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a water supply value drive unit which selectively opens a water supply valve of the washing machine;    a water discharge valve drive unit which selectively opens a water discharge valve of the washing machine;    a display unit which displays operating information of the washing machine; and    a washing motor drive unit which drives the wash motor, wherein the control unit controls the water supply value drive, water discharge valve drive, display, and washing motor drive units.