Method for controlling drum type washing machine

Abstract

A method for controlling a drum type washing machine is provided. The method includes selecting a delicate washing cycle or receiving an input from a user of such a selection; supplying air bubbles into a drum of the washing machine, thus allowing delicate clothing and/or laundry to be moved away or separated from a bottom (e.g., cylindrical) surface of the drum; washing the laundry while rotating the drum in a forward or backward direction by rotating a shaft forwardly or backwardly using rotational force from a driving motor; rinsing the laundry; and removing water from the laundry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a drum type washing machine, comprising:
 selecting a delicate washing cycle;   supplying air bubbles into a drum of the drum type washing machine;   rotating the drum;   rinsing the laundry; and   removing water from the laundry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing delicate clothing in the drum before air bubbles are supplied into the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the delicate clothing is placed in the drum before the delicate washing cycle is selected. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the delicate clothing includes pure cotton, linen, thin clothing or material, fluffy clothing, or sports clothing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the delicate clothing includes pure cotton or linen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drum is rotated during a laundry washing course. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the air bubbles are supplied when a rotational direction of a driving motor that rotates the drum switches in the washing step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the air bubbles are not supplied to the drum while the driving motor is operating. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the driving motor rotates the drum in one of a forward direction and a backward direction for a first length of time, the driving motor stops rotating the drum for a second length of time, the driving motor rotates the drum in the other of the forward direction and the backward direction for the first length of time, and the driving motor stops rotating the drum again for the second length of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the air bubbles are not supplied to the drum while the driving motor rotates the drum in the forward direction or the backward direction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising repeating rotating the drum in the one direction for the first length of time, stopping rotating the drum for the second length of time, rotating the drum in the other direction for the first length of time, and stopping rotating the drum again for the second length of time a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rotational direction of the driving motor is switched a preset number of times while rotating the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drum has a surface comprising a plurality of prominences configured to improve a washing effect of the washing machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the air bubbles are jetted into the drum and/or a tub surrounding the drum to separate or move the laundry away from the prominences. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the delicate washing cycle comprises receiving an input from a user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying the air bubbles allows delicate clothing, laundry and/or material to move away or separate from an inner cylindrical surface of the drum. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air bubbles comprise ozone, and the method further comprises generating the ozone. 
     
     
         18 . A drum type washing machine, comprising:
 a tub configured to hold water therein;   a rotatable drum in the tub, configured to hold and wash laundry and/or clothing therein, the drum having a cylindrical surface comprising a plurality of prominences configured to improve a washing effect of the washing machine;   a user interface with a delicate washing cycle selection button;   an air bubble generator configured to generate air bubbles in the drum;   a bubble disperser and/or distributor in the tub, configured to disperse and/or distribute the air bubbles in the drum;   a motor configured to rotate the drum; and   a controller configured to control the motor and the air bubble generator so that the air bubble generator generates air bubbles when the drum is not rotating, and the air bubble generator does not generate air bubbles when the drum is rotating.   
     
     
         19 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 18 , further comprising an ozone generator configured to receive air from the air bubble generator and supply ozone to the bubble disperser and/or distributor. 
     
     
         20 . The drum type washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the air bubble generator comprises an ozone generator.