Washing machine and method of operating the same

摘要

The present invention relates to a washing machine and a method of operating the washing machine. In operating the washing machine according to inputted settings, each washing cycle is divided into a plurality of steps, and a washing tub or pulsator is controlled to be differently operated for each step. Accordingly, the washing machine may be operated in various patterns to effectively remove contaminants from the laundry.

主权项

1. A method of operating a washing machine comprising:
an infiltrating detergent process that, after supplying washing water to a washing tub, rotates one of the washing tub and a pulsator at a first speed in a direction so that the washing water and a laundry are moved toward and pushed against an inner wall of the washing tub, and infiltrates detergent into the laundry; a first washing process that alternately repeats rotating the pulsator in a direction by a first rotation angle and rotating the pulsator in an opposite direction during washing laundry to create a first frictional force between the laundry and separating contaminants from the laundry using the first frictional force; a first macerating process that alternately repeats rotating the pulsator in a direction by a second rotation angle smaller than the first rotation angle and rotating the pulsator in an opposite direction by the second rotation angle; a second washing process that alternately repeats rotating the pulsator in a direction by a third rotation angle bigger than the first rotation angle and rotating the pulsator in an opposite direction during washing laundry to create a second frictional force larger than the first frictional force between the laundry and separating contaminants from the laundry using the second frictional force, wherein the first speed is higher than a speed of the second washing process; and a third washing process that alternately repeats rotating the pulsator in a direction and rotating the pulsator in an opposite direction to create a third frictional force between the laundry and further separates the contaminants from the laundry using the third frictional force.