US 12,297,581 B2
Washing machine and method of controlling the same
Junyoung Choi, Suwon-si (KR); and Dongil Back, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/720,815.
Application 17/720,815 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2022/005233, filed on Apr. 12, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0068067 (KR), filed on May 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0381062 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. D06F 39/14 (2006.01); D06F 33/30 (2020.01); D06F 34/20 (2020.01); D06F 37/28 (2006.01); D06F 103/40 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 39/14 (2013.01) [D06F 33/30 (2020.02); D06F 34/20 (2020.02); D06F 37/28 (2013.01); D06F 2103/40 (2020.02)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A washing machine, comprising:
a main body having an inlet;
a door configured to open and close to open or close the inlet, respectively, and including a latch with a locking hole formed in the latch;
a door locking device on the main body and including a locking member that is rotatable and that includes a locking bar, wherein the locking member is configured so that, with the door closed, the locking bar is insertable into the locking hole via rotation of the locking member to lock the door, and is removable from the locking hole via rotation of the locking member to unlock the door, and, as the locking bar is removed from the locking hole via rotation of the locking member, the locking member pushes the latch to cause the door to move away from the inlet and thereby open;
an automatic door opening device configured to, with the door closed and the locking bar inserted into the locking hole, generate a driving power based on electric power and deliver the driving power to the locking member to rotate the locking member so that the locking bar is removed from the locking hole; and
a controller configured to, in response to a completion of a washing course with the door closed and the locking bar inserted into the locking hole, perform control so that the automatic door opening device generates the driving power based on the electric power and delivers the driving power to the locking member, to thereby automatically open the door in response to the completion of the washing course.