Washing machine and controlling method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine and a controlling method of the same are disclosed. A washing machine includes a cabinet ( 10 ) defining an exterior appearance thereof, a tub ( 20 ) provided in the cabinet ( 10 ), the tub ( 20 ) receiving wash water therein, a drum ( 30 ) rotatable inside the tub ( 20 ), the drum ( 30 ) receiving laundry therein, a plurality of sensor members ( 100,102,104,112,116,120,130 ) installed in at least one of the drum ( 30 ) and tub ( 20 ), each of the sensor members ( 100,102,104,112,116,120,130 ) sensing the distance between the drum ( 30 ) and the tub ( 20 ), and a control part controlling the drum ( 30 ) based on a sensing value sensed by the sensor members ( 100,102,104,112,116,120,130 ). An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a secured tub ( 20 ) that is able to prevent collision between a drum ( 30 ) and the tub ( 20 ), and a controlling method thereof.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet defining an exterior appearance thereof;   a tub provided in the cabinet, the tub receiving wash water therein;   a drum rotatable inside the tub, the drum receiving laundry therein;   a plurality of sensor members installed in at least one of the drum and tub, each of the sensor members sensing the distance between the drum and the tub; and   a control part controlling the drum based on a sensing value sensed by the sensor members.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tub is directly connected to at least one of inner front, side and rear surfaces of the cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the control part determines that the drum collides with the tub if the drum approaches to the tub closely to a predetermined distance or more. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the control part controls a rotation speed of the drum if the drum approaches to the tub closely to the predetermined distance or more. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the control part decreases the rotation speed of the drum temporarily if the drum approaches to the tub closely to the predetermined distance or more. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the control part stops the operation of the drum temporarily if the drum collides with the tub. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor member is installed in a relatively more eccentric portion than a rotatably supported rear portion of the drum. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the more eccentric portion of the drum is a front portion of the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the sensor member is installed in a portion spaced apart to a maximum distance from the rotatably supported rear portion of the drum. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the control part informs a user of the close approaching or collision of the drum if the drum closely approaches to or collides with the tub. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor member is configured of a magnetic and a hall sensor, the magnetic and the hall sensor mounted to the tub. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor member is configured of a magnetic mounted to the drum, a reed switch and an hall IC sensor, the reed switch and the hall IC sensor mounted to the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic is installed between the drum and a race of a balancer. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor member is configured of a capacitor sensor mounted to the tub or drum. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor member is configured of an impact-type touch sensor mounted to the tub. 
     
     
         16 . A controlling method of a washing machine comprising:
 a distance sensing step sensing a distance between a drum and a tub based on a sensing value sensed by a sensor member; and   a drum controlling step controlling the rotation speed of the drum based on the sensed sensing value.   
     
     
         17 . The controlling method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the drum controlling step decreases the rotation speed of the drum temporarily if the drum approaches to the tub closely to a predetermined distance or more. 
     
     
         18 . The controlling method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the drum controlling step stops the drum temporarily if the drum collides with the tub. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic is installed between the drum and a race of a balancer. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft connected with the drum;
 a bearing housing to rotatably support the shaft;   a motor mounted to a rear surface of the bearing housing, for rotating the shaft; and   a suspension unit to support vibration of the drum suspendingly.   
     
     
         21 . The washing machine of  claim 20 , wherein the suspension unit is connected with the bearing housing. 
     
     
         22 . The washing machine of  claim 20 , further comprising a damping means configured to seal between the tub and the bearing housing to prevent wash water from leaking between the tub and the bearing housing and to allow the bearing housing to relative-move with respect to the tub. 
     
     
         23 . The washing machine of  claim 20 , wherein the tub is supported by the suspension unit more rigidly than the drum is supported.