Ultrasonic washer

Abstract

An ultrasonic washing machine is disclosed. The ultrasonic washing machine can have a machine body and a drum housed within the machine body, the drum having an opening for loading and unloading laundry. The ultrasonic washing machine can include a front door attached to the machine body and covering the opening. The ultrasonic transducers can be placed on an interior surface of the front door so as to be in direct contact with washing fluid when the washing machine is in operation. A control unit coupled to the one or more ultrasonic transducers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a machine body;   a drum housed within the machine body, the drum having an opening for loading and unloading laundry;   a front door attached to the machine body and covering the opening;   one or more ultrasonic transducers disposed on an interior surface of the front door so as to be in direct contact with washing fluid when the washing machine is in operation; and   a control unit coupled to the one or more ultrasonic transducers.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select the use of ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select a power level associated with ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit can alter washing machine cleaning parameters based on settings associated with ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         5 . A washing machine comprising:
 one or more ultrasonic transducers disposed on an interior surface of a front door so as to be in direct contact with washing fluid when the washing machine is in operation; and   a control unit coupled to the one or more ultrasonic transducers.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select a washing mode using only ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select a washing mode using mechanical agitation and ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select a power level associated with ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit can alter washing machine cleaning parameters based on settings associated with ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine comprising:
 a machine body;   a front door attached to the machine body and covering the opening;   one or more ultrasonic transducers disposed on an interior surface of the front door so as to be in direct contact with washing fluid when the washing machine is in operation; and   a control unit coupled to the one or more ultrasonic transducers.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select the use of ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is programmed to permit a user to select a power level associated with ultrasonic cleaning. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit can alter washing machine cleaning parameters based on settings associated with ultrasonic cleaning.