Washing machine with a plurality of tanks and washing method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine with a plurality of tanks and the washing method thereof are disclosed. In the present invention, the tanks of the washing machine are determined to wash individually or alternately, water and washing medium are also determined to be recycled or not. By using the washing machine of the present invention, water, washing medium and the washing procedures can be reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing method comprising steps of:
 putting washing into a first tank and a second tank;   providing a washing medium and water into the first tank;   driving the first tank to perform a first washing procedure;   draining water and the washing medium out of the first tank and conducting the water and the washing medium to the second tank;   driving the second tank to perform a second washing procedure; and   draining the water and the washing medium out of the second tank.   
     
     
         2 . The washing method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of conducting the water and the washing medium to a third tank after the step of draining the water and the washing medium out of the second tank. 
     
     
         3 . The washing method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a step of driving the third tank to perform a third washing procedure. 
     
     
         4 . The washing method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of conducting the water and the washing medium to the first tank. 
     
     
         5 . A washing machine with a plurality of tanks, comprising:
 a first tank and a second tank;   an inlet pipe connected to the first tank for conducting water into the first tank;   a first main pipe connected between the first tank and the second tank for conducting the water from the first tank to the second tank;   an outlet pipe connected to the second tank for conducting the water out of the second tank;   at least one driving unit connected to the first tank and the second tank; and   a control system connected to the at least one driving unit for controlling the at least one driving unit to drive the first tank and the second tank to rotate.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a second main pipe connected between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe for conducting the water from the second tank to the first tank. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a first inlet device disposed in the inlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the first inlet device has an inlet opening and is configured to conduct the water to the inlet pipe from the second main pipe or the inlet opening. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a second inlet device disposed in the first main pipe at an end adjacent to the second tank and connected to the control system, wherein the second inlet device has an inlet opening and is configured to conduct the water to the second tank from the first main pipe or the inlet opening. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a first outlet device disposed in the first main pipe at an end adjacent to the first tank and connected to the control system, wherein the first outlet device has an outlet opening and is configured to conduct the water from the first tank to the first main pipe or out of the first main pipe through the outlet opening. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a second outlet device disposed in the outlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the second outlet device has an outlet opening and is configured to conduct the water from the second tank to the second main pipe or out of the outlet pipe through the outlet opening. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising at least one pump disposed in the first main pipe at an end adjacent to the first tank, the outlet pipe, or both of the first main pipe at the end adjacent to the first tank and the outlet pipe. 
     
     
         12 . A washing machine with a plurality of tanks, comprising:
 a first tank and a second tank;   a main pipe;   a first inlet pipe and a first outlet pipe connected between the first tank and the main pipe respectively;   a second inlet pipe and a second outlet pipe connected between the second tank and the main pipe respectively;   at least one driving unit connected to the first tank and the second tank; and   a control system connected to the at least one driving unit for controlling the at least one driving unit to drive the first tank and the second tank to rotate.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a first inlet device disposed in the first inlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the first inlet device has an inlet opening and is configured to conduct water to the first tank from the first inlet pipe or the inlet opening of the first inlet device. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a second inlet device disposed in the second inlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the second inlet device has an inlet opening and is configured to conduct water to the second tank from the second inlet pipe or the inlet opening of the second inlet device. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a first outlet device disposed in the first outlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the first outlet device has an outlet opening and is configured to conduct water from the first tank to the first outlet pipe or out of the first outlet pipe through the outlet opening of the first outlet device. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a second outlet device disposed in the second outlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the second outlet device has an outlet opening and is configured to conduct water from the second tank to the second outlet pipe or out of the second outlet pipe through the outlet opening of the second outlet device. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising at least one pump disposed in the first outlet pipe, the second outlet pipe or both of the first outlet pipe and the second outlet pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third tank connected to the at least one driving unit;   a third inlet pipe and a third outlet pipe connected between the third tank and the main pipe;   a third inlet device disposed in the third inlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the third inlet device has an inlet opening and is configured to conduct water to the third tank from the third inlet pipe or the inlet opening of the third inlet device; and   a third outlet device disposed in the third outlet pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the third outlet device has an outlet opening and is configured to conduct the water from the third tank to the third pipe or out of the third pipe through the outlet opening of the third outlet device.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a guiding device disposed in the main pipe and connected to the control system, wherein the guiding device has two ends and a guiding opening, the two ends are connected to the main pipe respectively, the guiding opening is connected to the second inlet pipe, and the guiding device is configured to conduct the water between any two of the guiding opening and the two ends of the guiding device.