Washing machine and control method thereof
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsJeonguk Lee, Manho Chun, Joonho Pyo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control method for a washing machine includes: a mode change step in which the configuration of a coupler is moved by operating a solenoid module in such a way that a drive shaft for spinning a pulsator and a dewatering shaft for spinning a washing tub are axially coupled or decoupled; and a mode check step in which a drive motor for rotating the drive shaft is operated and the load of current outputted to the drive motor is sensed, the mode check step comprising a coupler setting step in which, if the load of current outputted to the drive motor does not satisfy a set load value, the solenoid module is operated to reposition the coupler.
Claims14
A method for controlling a washing machine including a washing tub, a pulsator disposed in the washing tub, a dewatering shaft configured to rotate the washing tub, a drive shaft connected to the pulsator, a drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft, a coupler configured to couple the dewatering shaft to the drive shaft and to decouple the dewatering shaft from the drive shaft, a solenoid module configured to move the coupler along the dewatering shaft, a coupler guide disposed at the dewatering shaft, and a controller configured to control operation of at least one of the drive motor or the solenoid module, wherein the coupler includes (i) a coupler body configured to move up and down the dewatering shaft and to receive torque from the drive motor, (ii) a guide member including locking protrusions that at least partially protrude inward from a periphery of the coupler body and are configured to lock onto an upper side of the coupler guide, and (iii) one or more stoppers that have a sloping surface on an inner periphery of the coupler body and are configured to restrain an upwards movement of the coupler body by contacting the coupler guide, wherein the coupler guide is configured to rotate in one direction based on contacting the one or more stoppers and includes a plurality of guide projections that define locking grooves configured to lock to the locking protrusions of the guide member, the coupler guide defining guide holes between the plurality of guide projections through which the guide member passes, the method comprising:
- operating the drive motor to rotate the drive shaft;
- while operating the drive motor, operating the solenoid module to generate force to move the coupler, and
- stopping an operation of the drive motor.
A method for controlling a washing machine including a washing tub, a pulsator disposed in the washing tub, a dewatering shaft configured to rotate the washing tub, a drive shaft connected to the pulsator, a drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft, a coupler configured to couple the dewatering shaft to the drive shaft and to decouple the dewatering shaft from the drive shaft, a solenoid module configured to move the coupler along the dewatering shaft, a coupler guide disposed at the dewatering shaft, and a controller configured to control operation of at least one of the drive motor or the solenoid module, wherein the coupler includes (i) a coupler body configured to move up and down the dewatering shaft and to receive torque from the drive motor, (ii) a guide member including locking protrusions that at least partially protrude inward from a periphery of the coupler body and are configured to lock onto an upper side of the coupler guide, and (iii) one or more stoppers that have a sloping surface on an inner periphery of the coupler body and are configured to restrain an upwards movement of the coupler body by contacting the coupler guide, wherein the coupler guide is configured to rotate in one direction based on contacting the one or more stoppers and includes a plurality of guide projections that define locking grooves configured to lock to the locking protrusions of the guide member, the coupler guide defining guide holes between the plurality of guide projections through which the guide member passes, the method comprising:
- performing a mode change operation that comprises operating the solenoid module to move the coupler;
- and
- performing a mode check operation that comprises:
- operating the drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, and sensing a load of current outputted to the drive motor, and
- performing a coupler setting operation that comprises operating the solenoid module to reposition the coupler based on the load of current outputted to the drive motor being outside a set load range, the coupler setting operation comprising a mode resetting operation to move the coupler to a coupling position to thereby couple the drive shaft and the dewatering shaft to each other,
- wherein the mode resetting operation comprises:
- operating the drive motor to rotate the drive shaft,
- while operating the driving motor, operating the solenoid module to generate force to move the coupler, and
- stopping operation of the drive motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.