Drum washing machine and washing method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine includes an outer tank installed inside a main body; a first inner tank located inside the outer tank; a second inner tank located inside the outer tank; a first shaft connected to the first inner tank; a second shaft connected to the second inner tank; a motor configured to supply rotational force, connected to the first and second shafts; and a clutch configured to supply the rotational force from the motor to the first and second shafts independently, the clutch connected between the first shaft, the second shaft, and the motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 an outer tank installed inside a main body;   a first inner tank located inside the outer tank;   a second inner tank located inside the outer tank, and that can operate independently from the first inner tank;   a first shaft connected to the first inner tank;   a second shaft connected to the second inner tank;   a motor configured to supply rotational force, connected to the first and second shafts; and   a clutch configured to supply the rotational force from the motor to the first and second shafts independently, the clutch connected between the first shaft, the second shaft, and the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the clutch controls a rotation speed and rotation direction of the first and second shafts independently through the independent supply of the rotational force. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second inner tank is inside the first inner tank. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the depth of the second inner tank is less than or equal to the depth of the first inner tank. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the first inner tank includes a lifter and the second inner tank includes a lifter. 
     
     
         6 . A washing control method in a washing machine comprising a first inner tank and a second inner tank inside an outer tank, the washing control method comprising:
 generating a rotational force with a motor;   supplying the rotational force independently to a first shaft connected with the first inner tank and to a second shaft connected with the second inner tank through a clutch connected to the motor; and   controlling the first and second inner tanks independently according to a pattern selected from a plurality of predetermined patterns through the independent supply of the rotational force.   
     
     
         7 . The washing control method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined patterns comprise:
 a first pattern where the first inner tank is stationary and the second inner tank rotates,   a second pattern where both the first and second inner tanks rotate in the forward direction,   a third pattern where the first inner tank rotates in the reverse direction and the second inner tank rotates in the forward direction,   a fourth pattern where the second inner tank is stationary and the first inner tank rotates,   a fifth pattern where both the first and second inner tanks rotate in the reverse direction, and   a sixth pattern where the first inner tank rotates in the forward direction, and the second inner tank rotates in the reverse direction.   
     
     
         8 . The washing control method of  claim 6 , wherein the second inner tank is inside the first inner tank. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling washing according to patterns in a washing machine comprising a first inner tank and a second inner tank, the method comprising:
 selecting a pattern from a plurality of washing patterns comprising:   a first pattern where the first inner tank is stationary, and the second inner tank rotates,   a second pattern where both the first and second inner tanks rotate in the forward direction,   a third pattern where the first inner tank rotates in the reverse direction and the second inner tank rotates in the forward direction,   a fourth pattern where the second inner tank is stationary and the first inner tank rotates,   a fifth pattern where both the first and second inner tanks rotate in the reverse direction, and   a sixth pattern where the first inner tank rotates in the forward direction, and the second inner tank rotates in the reverse direction.