Drum type washing machine

Abstract

A drum type washing machine capable of reducing water supply time and water drainage time, thereby reducing time of an entire washing cycle, the drum type washing machine including a body; a tub provided at an inside the body to accommodate washing water therein; a drum rotatably installed at an inside the tub; a water supply unit connected to the tub and provided to supply washing water; and a first storage unit connected to the water supply unit and provided to store washing water that is to be supplied to the tub, wherein the first storage unit includes a first storage tank configured to store washing water; a first connecting pipe configured to connect the first storage tank to the water supply unit; and a second connecting pipe configured to connect the first storage tank to the tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drum type washing machine, comprising:
 a body;   a tub provided at an inside the body to accommodate washing water therein;   a drum rotatably installed at an inside the tub;   a water supply unit connected to the tub and provided to supply washing water; and   a first storage unit connected to the water supply unit and provided to store washing water that is to be supplied to the tub,   wherein the first storage unit, comprises
 a first storage tank configured to store washing water; 
 a first connecting pipe configured to connect the first storage tank to the water supply unit; and 
 a second connecting pipe configured to connect the first storage tank to the tub. 
   
     
     
         2 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage unit comprises:
 a first valve installed at the first connecting pipe; and   a first pump installed to supply the washing water stored in the first storage tank to the tub.   
     
     
         3 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water supply unit comprises:
 a water supply pipe connected to an outside water supply source; and   a water supply valve installed at the water supply pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second storage unit connected to the tub and configured to store the washing water discharged from the tub.   
     
     
         5 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the second storage unit comprises:
 a second storage tank configured to store the washing water discharged from the tub;   a first connecting channel configured to connect the second storage tank to the tub;   a second valve installed at the first connecting channel; and   a second connecting channel configured to discharge the washing water stored in the second storage tank to an outside.   
     
     
         6 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second pump installed to discharge the washing water stored in the second storage tank to an outside of the body.   
     
     
         7 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to control the first valve and the first pump.   
     
     
         8 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the first valve so that the washing water is supplied to the first storage tank through the first valve during a washing cycle. 
     
     
         9 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the first pump so that the washing water stored in the first storage tank is supplied to the tub. 
     
     
         10 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to control the second valve and the second pump.   
     
     
         11 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the second storage tank further comprises a water level sensor, and
 wherein the second pump operates by the control unit in a case when the amount of the washing water stored in the second storage tank reaches a predetermined level.   
     
     
         12 . A drum type washing machine, comprising:
 a body;   a tub provided at an inside the body and configured to accommodate washing water;   a drum rotatably installed at an inside the tub; and   a second storage unit configured to store the washing water discharged from the tub and the drum,   wherein the second storage unit, comprises
 a second storage tank configured to store the washing water discharged from the tub; 
 a first connecting channel configured to connect the second storage tank to the tub; 
 a second valve installed at the first connecting channel; and 
 a second connecting channel configured to discharge the washing water stored in the second storage tank to an outside. 
   
     
     
         13 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second pump configured to drain the washing water stored in the second storage tank to an outside of the body.   
     
     
         14 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a water supply unit connected to the tub and provided to supply washing water to the tub,   wherein the water supply unit comprises a water supply pipe connected to an outside a water supply source, and a water supply valve installed at the water supply pipe.   
     
     
         15 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first storage unit connected to the water supply unit and configured to store the washing water which is to be supplied to the tub,   wherein the first storage unit, comprises
 a first storage tank configured to store washing water; 
 a first connecting pipe configured to connect the first storage tank to the water supply unit; 
 a second connecting pipe configured to connect the first storage tank to the tub; 
 a first valve installed at the first connecting pipe; and 
 a first pump installed to supply the washing water stored in the first storage tank to the tub. 
   
     
     
         16 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to control the second valve and the second pump, wherein the second pump operates by the control unit in a case when the amount of the washing water stored in the second storage tank reaches a predetermined level.   
     
     
         17 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to control the first valve and the first pump.   
     
     
         18 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the first valve so that the washing water is supplied to the first storage tank through the first valve during a washing cycle, and is configured to control the first pump so that the washing water stored in the first storage tank is supplied to the tub. 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a drum type washing machine, comprising:
 supplying washing water to a tub of the drum type washing machine by controlling a water supply valve installed at a water supply pipe connected to an outside water supply source;   storing washing water in a first storage tank by controlling a first valve installed at a first connecting pipe connected to the water supply pipe during a washing cycle, and   during a rinsing cycle, supplying washing water to the tub by controlling the water supply valve, and at the same time, supplying the washing water stored in the first storage tank to the tub through a second connecting pipe connected to the first pump by controlling the first pump, which is installed at the first storage tank, thereby performing a rinsing operation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 starting a water drainage by controlling a second valve installed at a first connecting channel connected to the tub;   storing the washing water drained by the opening of the second valve in a second storage tank, and   performing a drainage cycle of the washing water to an outside by controlling a second pump installed at the second storage tank.   
     
     
         21 . A drum type washing machine, comprising:
 a body;   a tub provided at an inside the body and configured to accommodate washing water;   a drum rotatably installed at an inside the tub;   a detergent supplying apparatus configured to supply detergent to an inside the drum; and   a water supply valve provided to control the amount of the washing water supplied from an outside water supply source,   wherein the water supply valve comprises:
 a valve body, 
 a water supply channel provided at one side of the valve body, 
 a first water supply channel provided to supply the washing water introduced through the water supply channel to the detergent supplying apparatus, and 
 a second water supply channel configured to communicate with the first water supply channel so that the washing water is supplied to the tub at the same time of being supplied to the first water supply. 
   
     
     
         22 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein
 the first water supply channel is provided at the other side of the valve body and extends toward an inner side of the body, and   the second water supply channel extends toward a lower side of the first water supply channel.   
     
     
         23 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a drainage water storage unit connected to the tub and configured to store the washing water discharged from the tub,   wherein the drainage water storage unit, comprises
 a drainage water storage tank configured to store the washing water discharged from the tub; 
 a first connecting channel configured to connect the drainage water storage tank to the tub; 
 a valve installed on the first connecting channel; and 
 a second connecting channel configured to discharge the washing water stored in the drainage storage tank to an outside. 
   
     
     
         24 . A method of controlling a drum type washing machine, comprising:
 controlling a water supply valve having a first water supply channel connected to a detergent supplying apparatus of the drum type washing machine, and having a second water supply channel connected to the tub, thereby supplying a certain portion of washing water to the detergent supplying apparatus and the tub through the first water supply channel while supplying another portion of the washing water directly to the tub through the second water supply channel;   washing a laundry by rotating a drum inside the tub;   primarily draining washing water to a storage tank by controlling a drainage valve installed at a connecting channel that is connected to a drainage hole of the tub;   discharging the washing water in the storage tank to an outside the body by controlling a pump connected to the storage tank;   supplying a certain portion of the washing water to the detergent supplying apparatus and the tub through the first water supply channel and supplying another portion of the washing water directly to the tub through the second water supply channel by controlling the water supply valve;   rinsing the laundry by rotating the drum;   secondarily draining a rinsing water in the tub to the storage tank by controlling the drainage valve at the time when a rinsing is completed; and   discharging the rinsing water in the storage tank to an outside during a spin-dry cycle by controlling the pump.