Washing apparatus and washing method using the same

Abstract

A washing apparatus includes an expandable and contractible wash tub and an auxiliary tank communicating with the wash tub to store wash water. Laundry in the wash tub is washed using bubbles supplied by a bubble supply device and using contraction and expansion of the wash tub.

1 . A washing apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body;   an expandable and contractible wash tub having one side supported at an upper part of the apparatus body, the wash tub being provided with an introduction port through which laundry is introduced;   an auxiliary tank disposed at a lower part of the apparatus body to store wash water discharged from the wash tub;   a front cover to support the other side of the wash tub, the front cover having a door hingedly mounted to open and close the introduction port; and   a circulation pump disposed between the wash tub and the auxiliary tank so that the wash tub and the auxiliary tank communicate with each other via the circulation pump to circulate wash water between the wash tub and the auxiliary tank so that the wash tub is contracted and expanded.   
     
     
         2 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bubble supply device, the bubble supply device comprising:
 a bubble pump to supply wash water from the auxiliary tank to the wash tub so that laundry in the wash tub is washed using bubbles;   an ejector to increase flow speed of the wash water supplied to the wash tub by the bubble pump; and   an air introduction pipe provided adjacent to the ejector to allow external air to be introduced therethrough.   
     
     
         3 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the front cover is moved based on expansion and contraction of the wash tub. 
     
     
         4 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the wash tub is disposed at the upper part of the apparatus body, the auxiliary tank is disposed at the lower part of the apparatus body, and the bubble supply device is disposed between the wash tub and the auxiliary tank. 
     
     
         5 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a wash water supply pipe connected between one side of the bubble pump and the auxiliary tank and a bubble supply pipe connected between the other side of the bubble pump and the wash tub. 
     
     
         6 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the circulation pump comprises a motor rotatable in forward and reverse directions. 
     
     
         7 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the motor comprises a brushless direct current motor. 
     
     
         8 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a first connection pipe connected between the circulation pump and the wash tub and a second connection pipe connected between the auxiliary tank and the wash tub,
 wherein the second connection pipe is provided with a valve to control flow of the wash water.   
     
     
         9 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the auxiliary tank has a drainage pipe communicating with an outside to drain wash water from the auxiliary tank, and the drainage pipe is provided with a drainage valve to control drainage of the wash water. 
     
     
         10 . The washing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the wash tub is contracted and expanded by wash water moving between the wash tub and the auxiliary tank according to the forward and reverse rotation of the circulation pump. 
     
     
         11 . A washing method of a washing apparatus comprising:
 hermetically sealing an expandable and contractible wash tub after placing laundry, wash water and detergent in the wash tub; and   washing the laundry using contraction and expansion of the wash tub.   
     
     
         12 . The washing method according to  claim 11 , further comprising washing the laundry in the wash tub using bubbles. 
     
     
         13 . The washing method according to  claim 12 , wherein the washing apparatus further comprises an auxiliary tank to store wash water, and
 washing the laundry in the wash tub using bubbles comprises using bubbles generated by mixing external air with wash water containing detergent during supply of the wash water from the auxiliary tank to the wash tub.   
     
     
         14 . The washing method according to  claim 13 , wherein washing the laundry using contraction and expansion of the wash tub comprises washing the laundry using contraction and expansion of the wash tub during movement of wash water between the wash tub and the auxiliary tank using a motor rotatable in forward and reverse directions. 
     
     
         15 . The washing method according to  claim 14 , further comprising spin-drying the laundry,
 wherein spin-drying the laundry includes draining the wash water from the auxiliary tank so that the wash tub is contracted by operation of the circulation pump, whereby the laundry in the wash tub is spin-dried while being compressed.