Washing method in washing machine including semi-drying cycle and control apparatus therefor

Abstract

A washing method in a washing machine including a semi-drying cycle, in which a spin-drying process and a disentangling process are repeatedly carried out several times in the semi-drying cycle at a speed lower than a spin-drying speed in a main spin-drying cycle. A washing mode involving the semi-drying cycle may be selectively inputted. In accordance with the washing method, wash water is heated in a rinsing cycle. In the semi-drying cycle, the spin-drying process is repeatedly executed at a spin-drying speed gradually increased as the semi-drying cycle progresses. In accordance with the washing method, it is possible to spin-dry the clothes to a water extraction rate of about 55 to 70%, while minimizing damage to the clothes and formation of wrinkles on the clothes.

1 . A semi-drying method in a washing machine comprising the step of: 
 executing a multi-stage spin-drying process to extract water contained in clothes washed in the washing machine while gradually increasing a spin-drying speed of a drum containing the clothes such that a higher stage of the spin-drying process is executed at a higher spin-drying speed; and    rotating the drum in a stirring fashion after completion of each stage of the multi-stage spin-drying process, to execute a disentangling process.    
   
   
       2 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum is rotated at a spin-drying speed at each stage of the multi-stage spin-drying process when the clothes are maintained within an allowable unbalance range prior to execution of the stage.  
   
   
       3 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum is rotated at a spin-drying speed at each stage of the multi-stage spin-drying process for a time set such that the rotating time at one stage is longer than the rotating time at the stage preceding said one stage.  
   
   
       4 . A semi-drying method in a washing machine comprising: 
 a primary semi-spin-drying step for rotating a drum at a predetermined spin-drying speed to spin dry clothes contained in the drum by a centrifugal force generated during the rotation of the drum;    a primary disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes, after completion of the primary semi-spin-drying step;    a secondary semi-spin-drying step for rotating the drum at a spin-drying speed higher than at the primary semi-spin-drying step, after completion of the primary disentangling step;    a secondary disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes, after completion of the secondary semi-spin-drying step;    a main spin-drying step for rotating the drum at a high spin-drying speed to spin-dry the clothes at a water extraction rate higher than at the secondary semi-spin-drying step, after completion of the secondary disentangling step; and    a final disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes, after completion of the main spin-drying step.    
   
   
       5 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the clothes are maintained within an allowable unbalance range prior to execution of each of the primary semi-spin-drying step, secondary semi-spin-drying step, and main spin-drying step, the drum is rotated at the spin-drying speed, which is predetermined for the associated spin-dry step.  
   
   
       6 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 4 , wherein respective rotating times, for which the drum is rotated at the primary and secondary semi-spin-drying steps, are set such that the rotating time at the secondary semi-spin-drying step is longer than the rotating time at the primary semi-spin-drying step.  
   
   
       7 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the secondary semi-spin-drying step and the secondary disentangling step are further repeatedly executed a plurality of times in an alternating fashion; and    respective spin-drying speeds of the drum at the repeated secondary semi-spin-drying steps are set such that the spin-drying speed at one semi-spin-drying step is higher than the spin-drying speed at the semi-spin-drying step preceding said one semi-spin-drying step.    
   
   
       8 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 7 , wherein respective rotating times, for which the drum is rotated at the repeated secondary semi-spin-drying steps, are set such that the rotating time at one secondary semi-spin-drying step is longer than the rotating time at the semi-spin-drying step preceding said one secondary semi-spin-drying step.  
   
   
       9 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 4 , wherein the spin-drying speed of the drum at the main spin-drying step is set to be higher than the spin-drying speed of the drum at the secondary semi-spin-drying step.  
   
   
       10 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 4 , wherein the spin-drying speed of the drum at the main spin-drying step is set, based on an unbalance of the clothes sensed after completion of the secondary disentangling step.  
   
   
       11 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 10 , wherein a rotating time, for which the drum is rotated at the main spin-drying step, is set such that the rotating time is increased as the set spin-drying speed of the drum at the main spin-drying step decreases.  
   
   
       12 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 10 , wherein the spin-drying speed of the drum at the main spin-drying step is increased in a step-wise fashion from the set spin-drying speed of the drum, as the main spin-drying step progresses.  
   
   
       13 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a re-disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion when the spin-drying speed of the drum set for the main spin-drying step is lower than a predetermined speed, prior to execution of the main spin-drying step.    
   
   
       14 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an additional disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion when the clothes have been maintained in the drum until a predetermined time elapses after completion of the final disentangling step.    
   
   
       15 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 14 , wherein the additional disentangling step is repeatedly executed at intervals of a predetermined time until the clothes are taken out of the drum.  
   
   
       16 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 14 , wherein the additional disentangling step comprises the steps of comparing a load generated during a rotation of the drum at the additional disentangling step, which is currently executed, with a predetermined load, and determining, based on the result of the comparison, whether or not the clothes have been taken out of the drum.  
   
   
       17 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 14 , wherein the additional disentangling step further comprises the step of turning off the washing machine when it is determined that the clothes have been taken out of the drum.  
   
   
       18 . A washing method in a washing machine comprising: 
 a rinsing cycle for repeatedly executing, a plurality of times, a rinsing process adapted to supply wash water into a drum containing clothes, and then to rotate the drum to rinse the clothes, and a draining process adapted to drain the wash water, while heating the wash water supplied in at least a final one of the repeated rinsing processes; and    a semi-drying cycle for executing a multi-stage spin-drying process in such a manner that the drum is rotated at spin-drying speeds set for respective stages of the multi-stage spin-drying process to spin-dry the clothes by a centrifugal force generated during the rotation of the drum, and rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes after completion of each stage of the multi-stage spin-drying process.    
   
   
       19 . The washing method according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a spin-drying cycle for rotating the drum at a high spin-drying speed for a time shorter than an execution time of the semi-drying cycle, to spin-dry the clothes by a centrifugal force generated during the rotation of the drum,    wherein the spin-drying cycle or the semi-drying cycle is selectively executed.    
   
   
       20 . The washing method according to  claim 18 , wherein the semi-drying cycle comprises: 
 a primary semi-spin-drying step for rotating the drum at a predetermined spin-drying speed;    a primary disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes, after completion of the primary semi-spin-drying step;    a secondary semi-spin-drying step for rotating the drum at a spin-drying speed higher than at the primary semi-spin-drying step, after completion of the primary disentangling step;    a secondary disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes, after completion of the secondary semi-spin-drying step;    a main spin-drying step for rotating the drum at a high spin-drying speed to spin-dry the clothes at a water extraction rate higher than at the secondary semi-spin-drying step, after completion of the secondary disentangling step; and    a final disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes, after completion of the main spin-drying step.    
   
   
       21 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 20 , wherein the spin-drying speed of the drum at the main spin-drying step is set to be higher than the spin-drying speed of the drum at the secondary semi-spin-drying step.  
   
   
       22 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 20 , wherein the spin-drying speed of the drum at the main spin-drying step is set, based on an unbalance of the clothes sensed after completion of the secondary semi-spin-drying step.  
   
   
       23 . The semi-drying method according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 an additional disentangling step for rotating the drum in a stirring fashion when the clothes have been maintained in the drum until a predetermined time elapses after completion of the semi-drying cycle.    
   
   
       24 . A control apparatus for a washing machine comprising: 
 an operating unit adapted to allow a user to input a washing mode, and to display the progress of a washing operation carried out in the washing machine; and    a semi-dry input unit provided at the operating unit, and adapted to allow the user to input a semi-drying mode, in which a multi-stage spin-drying process is executed in such a manner that a drum is rotated at spin-drying speeds set for respective stages of the multi-stage spin-drying process to extract water from clothes contained in the drum, and the drum is rotated in a stirring fashion to disentangle the clothes after completion of each stage of the multi-stage spin-drying process.    
   
   
       25 . The control apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a semi-dry display unit provided at the operating unit, and adapted to display the progress of the semi-drying mode.