Washing machine and suds removal method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine having a drying device and a suds removal method thereof. The suds removal method is able to effectively remove suds, which are excessively generated during a washing cycle to thereby be introduced into the drying device. The suds removal method comprises determining whether a drying cycle is selected, and removing the suds by supplying water into the drying device when the drying cycle is selected.

1 . A washing machine having a drying device, comprising: 
 a signal input unit to select a drying cycle or washing cycle;    water supply means to supply water into the drying device; and    a controller to control the supply of water in order to remove suds present inside the drying device if the drying cycle or washing cycle is selected by the signal input unit.    
   
   
       2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of water is controlled to supply the water into the drying device after the washing cycle.  
   
   
       3 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of water is controlled to supply the water into the drying device during a rinsing cycle.  
   
   
       4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of water is controlled to supply the water into the drying device before the drying cycle.  
   
   
       5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the drying device comprises a duct connected to a water tub to circulate heated air into the water tub.  
   
   
       6 . The machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the water supply means comprises a water supply valve to supply the water into the duct.  
   
   
       7 . A suds removal method of a washing machine having a drying device to remove suds present inside the drying device, comprising: 
 determining whether a drying cycle is selected; and    removing the suds by supplying water into the drying device when the drying cycle is selected.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the removing of the suds is performed before the drying cycle is performed.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the removing of the suds is an independent cycle to remove suds or foreign substances present inside the drying device.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the removing of the suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for a predetermined time.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the removing of the suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for a predetermined time for a predetermined number of cycles.  
   
   
       12 . A suds removal method of a washing machine having a drying device comprising: 
 determining whether a washing cycle is completed;    removing suds present inside the drying device by supplying water into the drying device when the washing cycle is completed.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the removing of the suds is an independent cycle to remove the suds or foreign substances present inside the drying device.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the removing of the suds is performed simultaneously with a rinsing cycle of the washing machine.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the removing of the suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for a predetermined time.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the removing of the suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for a predetermined time for a predetermined number of cycles.  
   
   
       17 . A washing machine having a water tub and a drum, the washing machine comprising: 
 a drying device to dry laundry placed in the drum, and comprising a condensation duct mounted at a rear surface of the water tub, wherein excess suds are removed from the drum via the condensation duct; and    a controller to control an operation of a supply of condensing water into the condensation duct after a washing cycle or before a drying cycle of the washing machine to thereby remove the suds introduced into the condensation duct.    
   
   
       18 . The washing machine of  claim 17 , further comprising an injection nozzle inserted into an upper portion of the condensation duct to inject condensing water into the condensation duct to flow down an inner surface of the condensation duct.