Washing machine and method of washing drum

Abstract

Disclosed are a washing machine and a method of controlling the same. The washing machine includes a drum; a washing device to spray water to perform washing of an outer surface of the drum; and a control unit controlling the washing of the outer surface of the drum such that the washing of the outer surface of the drum is performed during a washing or rinsing cycle. The washing machine does not need to be disassembled to wash the drum and tub and thus is easily washed and has the ribs extended in a same direction of an extension direction of the flange shaft to increase the strength of the flange shaft and thus forms channels of water flowing on the flange shaft and reduces the remaining of contaminants on the flange shaft in the washing or rinsing cycle to enhance the washability of the flange shaft.

1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a drum configured to receive articles to be washed;   a washing device configured to spray water to perform washing of an outer surface of the drum; and   a control unit controlling the washing of the outer surface of the drum such that the washing of the outer surface of the drum is performed during a washing or rinsing cycle of the washing machine.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tub provided at an outside of the drum, the washing device being connected to the tub and spraying the water to a rear surface of the drum. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the washing device includes a nozzle to adjust a spraying direction of the water; and   the nozzle faces a center of the rear surface of the drum.   
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising a circulation device to circulate water in the tub, the washing device being connected to the circulation device and spraying a portion of the circulated water. 
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the control unit controls the washing of the drum such that the washing of the drum is performed during a dehydrating cycle. 
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a water level sensing unit sensing a level of water in the tub, the control unit performing a draining cycle until the level of water in the tub is sensed to have reached a designated level, and stopping the draining cycle and performing the dehydrating cycle when the level of water in the tub is sensed to have reached the designated level. 
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a water supply device to supply water, the control unit controlling the water supply device such that a designated level of water is supplied to the tub after a draining cycle has been completed. 
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising a water supply device to supply water, the washing device being connected to the water supply device and spraying the supplied water. 
   
   
       9 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a tub to contain water and a drum provided in the tub, comprising:
 performing a washing or rinsing cycle by circulating the water in the tub; and   performing washing of an outer surface of the drum using a portion of the circulated water during the washing or rinsing cycle.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the washing of the drum is performed by spraying the portion of the circulated water to a rear surface of the drum. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 performing a draining cycle to drain the water in the tub; and   performing a dehydrating cycle when the level of the water in the tub is sensed to have reached a designated level, the washing of the drum being performed during the dehydrating cycle.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 draining the water in the tub;   additionally supplying water to the tub when the draining has been completed; and   performing a dehydrating cycle when the level of the water in the tub is sensed to have reached a designated level, the washing of the drum being performed during the dehydrating cycle.   
   
   
       13 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a water supply device and a drum, comprising:
 performing washing of an outer surface of the drum during a washing, rinsing, or dehydrating cycle, the washing of the outer surface of the drum being performed by washing the drum with water supplied from the water supply device using a washing device connected to the water supply device.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the washing of the drum is performed by spraying the water to a rear surface of the drum. 
   
   
       15 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a drum configured to receive articles to be washed;   a washing device configured to spray water to the drum to wash the drum;   a flange shaft connected to a rear surface of the drum; and   a plurality of ribs protruded from the flange shaft and extended from a center of the flange shaft in a radial direction of the drum to form flowing channels of the water sprayed from the washing device.   
   
   
       16 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , further comprising a tub provided at an outside of the drum, the washing device being connected to the tub and spraying the water to the rear surface of the drum. 
   
   
       17 . The washing machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising a circulation device circulating water in the tub, the washing device being connected to the circulation device and spraying a portion of the circulated water. 
   
   
       18 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a drum configured to receive articles to be washed;   a flange shaft connected to a rear surface of the drum; and   a plurality of ribs protruded from the flange shaft and continuously extended from a center of the flange shaft in a radial direction of the drum to form channels on the flange shaft.   
   
   
       19 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a tub receiving water;   a drum installed in the tub and configured to receive articles to be washed; and   a washing device installed between the tub and the drum to perform washing of the drum.   
   
   
       20 . The washing machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the washing device includes a nozzle spraying water and a washing pipe supplying the water through the nozzle. 
   
   
       21 . The washing machine according to  claim 20 , further comprising a water supply pipe supplying water, the washing pipe being connected to the water supply pipe. 
   
   
       22 . The washing machine according to  claim 20 , further comprising a circulation pump pumping water and a circulation pipe connected to the circulation pump, the washing pipe being connected to the circulation pipe. 
   
   
       23 . The washing machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the drum includes a flange shaft connected to a rear surface of the drum, the flange shaft having ribs protruded therefrom and extended from a center of the flange shaft in a radial direction of the drum.