Washing machine and control method thereof

摘要

A washing machine in which performance of a balancer is improved and a control method thereof. The washing machine includes at least one balancer housing provided with a ring-shaped channel, at least one mass body movably disposed in the channel, a confinement unit to confine the at least one mass body to the at least one balancer housing so as to allow the at least one mass body to be rotated under the condition that the at least one mass body is fixed to the at least one balancer housing, an adjustment unit to release confinement of the at least one mass body so as to allow the at least one mass body to descend due to gravity during rotation of the drum, and a control unit to control the adjustment unit so that unbalanced load is offset by the at least one mass body.

主权项

1. A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet; a tub disposed within the cabinet to receive water therein; a drum disposed within the tub to receive laundry therein and rotated by rotational force transmitted from a drive source; at least one balancer housing mounted on the drum and provided with a ring-shaped channel formed therein; at least one mass body movably disposed in the channel of the at least one balancer housing, respectively, the at least one mass unit including a permanent magnet or a magnetic body; a confinement unit including a permanent magnet or a magnetic body, the confinement unit being positioned on or in the at least one balancer housing and configured to confine the at least one mass body in place in the at least one balancer housing through magnetic attraction between the at least one mass body and the confinement unit; an adjustment unit to release confinement of the at least one mass body to the confinement unit by counteracting the magnetic force between the at least one mass body and the confinement unit, the adjustment unit including at least one electromagnet disposed proximate to the at least one balancer housing and configured to generate magnetic force in a direction offsetting the magnetic force between the at least one mass body and the confinement unit; and a control unit to control the adjustment unit so that unbalanced load present in the drum is offset by the at least one mass body.