Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method effectively transmits high-concentration wash liquid to laundry, while minimizing the amount of water used, through washing using bubbles, and maximizes the increase in volume of the wash liquid rubbed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum using the generation of bubbles and the rotation of the drum to raise the water level of the wash liquid without additional water.

A washing machine includes a cabinet; an outer basket in the cabinet and configured to contain wash water; an inner basket in the outer basket and configured to accommodate laundry; a water supply valve unit in the cabinet and connected to an external water supply source to receive wash water; a cabinet cover on an upper side of the cabinet and having an input hole for the laundry; and a micro-bubble generator configured to receive wash water from the water supply valve unit, generate micro-bubbles, and supply the micro-bubbles to a washing space. The micro-bubble generator includes a nozzle unit at or near the input hole and configured to generate micro-bubbles by receive wash water in which gas is dissolved or mixed and discharge wash water having the micro-bubbles therein into the inner basket after the micro-bubbles are generated.

Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method effectively transmits high-concentration wash liquid to laundry, while minimizing the amount of water used, through washing using bubbles, and maximizes the increase in volume of the wash liquid rubbed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum using the generation of bubbles and the rotation of the drum to raise the water level of the wash liquid without additional water.

Disclosed herein is a washing machine capable of realizing a circulation function and a bubble function at the same time. The washing machine includes a main body, a tub provided in the main body, a pump provided to circulate wash water into the tub, and a circulation bubble unit provided on a flowing route of the wash water flowing out from the pump, wherein the circulation bubble unit is provided to be connected with the tub, and includes a first fluid path provided so that some of the wash water flowing out from the pump is circulated into the tub, and a second fluid path provided to generate bubbles in the wash water using another some of the wash water.

Apparatus (200) for the treatment of one or more substrates comprising a treatment chamber configured to receive a liquid medium and one or more substrates; a supply of a treatment gas comprising ozone; and one or more conduits to convey said treatment gas to a bubble generator (41) wherein said bubble generator is operable to form bubbles of said treatment gas in said liquid medium, wherein the apparatus comprises a multiplicity of solid particles (46). A method of treating one or more substrates, the method comprising agitating said one or more substrates in a treatment formulation comprising a multiplicity of solid particles, a liquid medium and bubbles of ozone.

A bubble generation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a housing comprising a first port connected to a pump, a second port connected to a drum, and a third port connected to a tub; a valve device comprising a valve rotatably installed in the housing and configured to open or close a passage between the first port and the third port and, based on the passage between the first port and the third port being opened, and to form an orifice part having a passage width decreasing toward the third port from the first port in the housing; and an actuator configured to control the rotation angle of the valve device.

A washing machine that saves energy while maintaining washing performance according to a water temperature is provided. The washing machine includes a main body, a tub provided inside the main body, a first water supply device configured to supply washing water without detergent to the tub, a second water supply device configured to supply washing water containing detergent to the tub, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the washing water stored in the tub, a circulation bubble device configured to circulate the washing water stored in the tub or generate bubbles in the washing water stored in the tub, a circulation pump configured to supply the washing water stored in the tub to the circulation bubble device, memory storing one or more computer programs, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the washing machine to control the first water supply device to supply the washing water without detergent to the tub, and control a rotation speed of the circulation pump based on a temperature of the washing water without detergent.

A washing machine including a dissolving unit and a bubble generating unit. The dissolving unit includes a hollow outer body that has an open end, and a hollow inner body that has an open end. The inner body is disposed in the outer body. The gap between the inner and the outer body forms a dissolving flow path. A dissolving cap is coupled to one side of the outer body to retain air in the outer body and the inner body. A dissolving inlet port is formed to receive water supplied from the outside to the inner body. A control unit controls the water supply unit and the drain valve so as to stop an inflow of the water/air mixture to be supplied into the bubble generating unit.

A washing machine including a dissolving unit and a bubble generating unit. The dissolving unit includes a hollow outer body that has an open end, and a hollow inner body that has an open end. The inner body is disposed in the outer body. The gap between the inner and the outer body forms a dissolving flow path. The dissolving unit includes flow paths allowing water to mix with air efficiently as water flows through. The bubble generating unit includes a pressure reduction region to reduce pressures of bubbles. Bubbles can be supplied with washing water either to the upper side or the lower side of the tub.

A washing machine capable of generating and supplying bubbles to laundry during washing and rinsing operations to facilitate removal of detergent and foreign substances from the laundry. A dissolving unit can receive a water supply and contain a volume of air. The dissolving unit provides a water flow path that allows the contained air to dissolve efficiently in the water, thereby providing a water/air mixture to a bubble generating unit. Dissolved air can separate from the water/air mixture in the bubble generating unit and form bubbles, e.g., due to pressure reduction. The bubbles are then supplied to the tub containing the laundry.