Washing machine and control method thereof

(19)

(11)

EP 1 983 086 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	23.12.2009 Bulletin 2009/52

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	22.10.2008 Bulletin 2008/43

(21)	Application number: 07121896.0

(22)	Date of filing: 29.11.2007

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

D06F 25/00^(2006.01)
D06F 58/20^(2006.01)

D06F 33/02^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL BA HR MK RS

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Priority:

17.04.2007 KR 20070037233

(71)	Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do (KR)

(72)	Inventors:
	Kim, Tal Eun Paldal-gu Suwon-si Gyeonggi-do (KR) Pyo, Sang Yeon Paldal-gu Suwon-si Gyeonggi-do (KR) Park, Jae Ryong Hwaseong-si Gyeonggi-do (KR) Kim, Sung Hoon DA Research Institute, Samsung Electr. Co. Gyeonggi-do (KR) Yang, Byoung Yull Yeongtong-gu Suwon-si Gyeonggi-do (KR) Cho, Hwang Mook Suwon-si Gyeonggi-do (KR)

(74)	Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser Anwaltssozietät
	Leopoldstrasse 4 80802 München 80802 München (DE)

(54)	Washing machine and control method thereof

(57) Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof that are capable of improving the deodorization efficiency without the provision of an additional unit. The washing machine includes a water supply unit (40), a rotary tub (30), a water tub (20), a first heater (15) mounted in the water tub to generate steam necessary to humidify an object to be deodorized, and a blowing unit (60) to suction air from the outside of the water tub and supply the suctioned air into the rotary tub. Consequently, it is possible to humidify the object using the first heater, located at the bottom of the water tub, whereby the manufacturing costs of the washing machine are reduced. Also, air, introduced from the outside of the water tub, is supplied to the object, whereby the deodorization efficiency is improved.

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