A method of monitoring drainage of a washing appliance such as a dishwasher or washing machine having a pump for draining a washing chamber is disclosed. The method includes receiving a time series of power consumption data relating to the operation of the washing appliance over a monitored period of operation including pumped draining of the washing chamber. A measure of the duration of a portion of the monitored period comprising said pumped draining is derived from the time series of power consumption data. The measure of duration is then compared to a reference value and an indicator of a drainage condition is determined based on the comparison. The method may be used to detect scaling or blockages in drainage flow paths.

A method for operating a laundry treatment machine having a container for housing a laundry load to be treated and a pump. The pump has an electric motor adapted to be powered by a motor voltage (VMOT) and a motor current (IMOT). An air-water working condition of the pump is detected/evaluated based on values of the motor voltage (VMOT) and/or the motor current (IMOT) of the electric motor.

Provided is a laundry treatment machine including a washing tub, a washing tub motor, a water level sensor, a drain pump, a motor configured to operate the drain pump, a converter configured to output DC power, an inverter configured to convert the DC power into AC power, and a controller configured to, when power consumed by the motor during a drainage operation does not reach first power, perform control to increase a speed of the motor or the power consumed by the motor, and when the power consumed by the motor during the drainage operation reaches the first power and remains within a first range corresponding to the first power and then falls from the first range, output a drainage completion message. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine the completion of the operation of the drain pump. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the drainage time and reduce the waste of power.

Provided is a laundry treatment machine including a washing tub, a washing tub motor configured to rotate the washing tub, a drain pump configured to operate to drain the washing tub, a motor configured to operate the drain pump, a converter configured to output DC power, an inverter configured to convert the DC power, a dc terminal voltage detector configured to detect a dc terminal voltage output from the converter, and a controller configured to, when the dc terminal voltage continuously drops during a first period based on an operation of the inverter, perform control to turn off the inverter and operate the converter after the first period. Accordingly, it is possible to stably drive based on the dc terminal voltage during the operation of the drain pump.

Disclosed herein is a drain pump driving apparatus and a laundry treatment machine including the same. The drain pump driving apparatus and the laundry treatment machine including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention include a motor to operate the drain pump, an inverter to convert a direct current (DC) power to an alternating current (AC) power by a switching operation and output the converted AC power to the motor, an output current detector to detect an output current flowing to the motor, and a controller to control the inverter, wherein the controller may calculate a speed ripple of the motor based on the output current and performs a control operation based on the calculated speed ripple of the motor to change a speed of the motor.

Provided herein is a method of determining whether process water is present in a circulation pump of an appliance for washing and rinsing goods, and an appliance performing the method. The method of determining whether process water is present in a circulation pump of an appliance for washing and rinsing goods may include measuring a minimum value of a property representing load of the circulation pump at a predetermined first speed, measuring a maximum value of a property representing load of the circulation pump at a predetermined second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed, determining a relation between said minimum value and said maximum value, and determining, from said relation, whether process water is present in the circulation pump.

A laundry apparatus may include a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet and configured to hold water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry, and a through-hole penetrating the drum and configured to facilitate communication between the tub and the drum. The laundry apparatus may also include a pump housing comprising a chamber defining a predetermined space in which water is stored, a tub water discharge pipe provided to guide the water held in the tub towards the chamber, a pump water discharge pipe provided to guide the water stored in the chamber to a position outside the chamber, an impeller rotatably mounted in the chamber and configured to pump the water stored in the chamber towards the pump water discharge pipe, and an air discharge pipe configured to guide air from inside the chamber towards the tub or the pump water discharge pipe.

A pump includes: a pump housing having an inflow port, a first discharge port, and a second discharge port; a pump motor for providing a rotational force; and an impeller disposed in the pump housing and configured to pump water introduced through the inflow port. A planetary gear train includes a carrier connected to a rotary shaft of the pump motor, a sun gear connected to the impeller, a pinion gear rotatably installed in the carrier and engaged with the sun gear, and a ring gear engaged with the pinion gear. A rotatable valve disc is couple with the ring gear in the pump housing, and configured to close the first discharge port and open the second discharge port in a first rotation position, and open the first discharge port and close the second discharge port in a second rotation position.

A drain pump includes an impeller, a rotor configured to rotate the impeller, a stator, a first housing that defines a rotor accommodating portion, a second housing that is coupled to the first housing and that defines together with the first housing a motor accommodating space that accommodates the stator, a connector that extends from the stator and that has a contact surface configured to connect to a power source and exposed to an outside of the motor accommodating space through at least one of the first housing or the second housing, and a connector cover portion that is located at at least one of the first housing or the second housing to cover the connector and that has at least one side surface opened to expose the contact surface of the connector to the outside of the motor accommodating space.

The present specification relates to a clothing treatment apparatus and a control method therefor, the clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a plurality of inverters for controlling the motors of a drum, a compressor, and a blowing fan; a converter for converting input power input from an external source and outputting the converted power to the inverters; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of inverters and the converter.