US 11,708,655 B2
Washing machine
Jeonguk Lee, Seoul (KR); Manho Chun, Seoul (KR); Joonho Pyo, Seoul (KR); and Taehee Lee, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Nov. 6, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/91,949.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2019-0140939 (KR), filed on Nov. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0131003 A1, May 6, 2021
Int. Cl. D06F 37/40 (2006.01); D06F 13/06 (2006.01); D06F 37/30 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 13/06 (2013.01) [D06F 37/40 (2013.01); D06F 37/304 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A washing machine comprising:
a washing tub configured to receive laundry;
a dewatering shaft configured to rotate the washing tub about an axis;
a pulsator rotatably disposed within the washing tub;
a drive shaft configured to rotate the pulsator about the axis;
a coupler that is configured to move up and down along the dewatering shaft, the coupler being configured to be disposed at a first position for coupling the drive shaft and the dewatering shaft to each other and to be disposed at a second position for decoupling the drive shaft and the dewatering shaft from each other, the second position being disposed vertically above the first position, wherein the coupler is configured to move to the first position or the second position through a third position that is disposed vertically above the second position;
a solenoid module configured to move the coupler upward from the first position or the second position;
a coupler guide configured to:
based on the coupler moving upward, be rotated by contact with the coupler, and
based on the coupler moving downward, restrict movement of the coupler in the second position or guide the coupler to the first position; and
a controller configured to control operation of the solenoid module and to apply one or more pulse signals to the solenoid module to thereby move the coupler from the first position to the third position, or from the third position to the first position.