WASHING MACHINE

• US 20080235880A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Kyeong Hwan, CHANG, Jin Ho, JO, IL Hyeon
• Granted Patent: US 7,921,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed is a washing machine, which can automatically supply a liquid detergent into a washing tub and automatically clean inner flow passages through which the liquid detergent has flown with a cleaning solution. A liquid detergent supply mechanism supplies at least one kind of liquid detergent to the washing tub, and the inner flow passages of the liquid detergent supply mechanism through which the liquid detergent has flown are cleaned with the cleaning solution supplied from outside.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a washing tub; and

a liquid detergent supply mechanism, the liquid detergent supply mechanism comprising at least one liquid detergent storage container that stores liquid detergent to be supplied to the washing tub,

wherein the liquid detergent supply mechanism is configured to supply the liquid detergent stored in the liquid detergent storage container to the washing tub, and to remove residual liquid detergent not supplied to the washing tub by using a cleaning solution.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent supply mechanism further comprises:

a valve;

a cleaning solution storage container that stores the cleaning solution;

a cleaning solution supply passage connecting the valve and the cleaning solution storage container;

first flow passages connecting the valve and the at least one liquid detergent storage container; and

a second flow passage selectively communicated with the first flow passages or the cleaning solution supply passage by the valve, for selectively guiding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution to the washing tub.

3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent supply mechanism further comprises:

a valve;

a cleaning solution supply mechanism including a cleaning solution supply passage to guide the cleaning solution, the cleaning solution being supplied to the valve via the cleaning solution supply passage;

first flow passages connecting the valve and the at least one liquid detergent storage container; and

a second flow passage selectively communicated with the first flow passages or the cleaning solution supply passage by the valve, for selectively guiding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution to the washing tub.

4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the cleaning solution includes washing water supplied from an external water source of the washing machine, and the cleaning solution is supplied to the valve by the pressure of the external water source.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the washing machine further comprises a circulation mechanism that circulates washing water contained in the washing tub, the cleaning solution including the circulated washing water, and the liquid detergent supply mechanism further comprises:

a valve;

a cleaning solution supply passage connecting the valve and the circulation mechanism;

first flow passages connecting the valve and the at least one liquid detergent storage container; and

a second flow passage selectively communicated with the first flow passages or the cleaning solution supply passage by the valve, for selectively guiding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution to the washing tub.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the circulation mechanism further comprises a circulation pump that generates a pressure differential to circulate the washing water in the washing tub, and

wherein, when the cleaning solution supply passage and the second flow passage are communicated with each other by the valve, the cleaning solution is fed to the washing tub via the second flow passage according to the pressure differential generated by the circulation pump.

7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the washing machine further comprises a draining mechanism that discharges the washing water stored in the washing tub, the cleaning solution includes the washing water drained by the draining mechanism, and the liquid detergent supply mechanism further comprises:

a valve;

a cleaning solution supply passage connecting the valve and the draining mechanism;

first flow passages connecting the valve and the at least one liquid detergent storage container; and

a second flow passage selectively communicated with the first flow passages or the cleaning solution supply passage by the valve, for selectively guiding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution to the washing tub.

8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the draining mechanism further comprises a drainage pump that generates a pressure differential to discharge the washing water being drained, and

wherein, when the cleaning solution supply passage and the second flow passage are communicated with each other by the valve, the washing water being drained is fed to the washing tub via the second flow passage according to the pressure differential generated by the drainage pump.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the washing machine further comprises a detergent supply pump that generates a pressure differential for feeding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution to the washing tub,

wherein the operation of the detergent supply pump applies pressure to the cleaning solution to remove residual liquid detergent not supplied to the washing tub.

10. A washing machine comprising a washing tub and a liquid detergent supply mechanism, the liquid detergent supply mechanism comprising:

at least one liquid detergent storage container that stores liquid detergent for supply to the washing tub;

a valve;

first flow passages connecting the valve and the liquid detergent storage container for guiding the liquid detergent stored in the liquid detergent storage container to the valve; and

a cleaning solution supply passage for guiding cleaning solution to the valve, the cleaning solution removing residual liquid detergent not supplied to the washing tub.

11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein check valves for preventing backflow of the liquid detergent are respectively disposed on the first flow passages.

12. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the liquid detergent supply mechanism further comprises a second flow passage connecting the valve and the washing tub for selectively guiding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution passing through the valve to the washing tub.

13. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the liquid detergent storage container includes plural containers, the number of the first flow passages corresponding to the number of liquid detergent storage containers, and the valve selectively communicating one of the first flow passages or the cleaning solution supply passage to the second flow passage.

14. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein one end of the second flow passage is connected to the washing tub.

15. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the washing machine further comprises a detergent supply unit disposed on a water supply passage that supplies water to the washing tub, one end of the second flow passage being connected to the detergent supply unit.

16. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the liquid detergent supply mechanism further comprises a detergent supply pump disposed on the second flow passage to generate a pressure differential for supplying the liquid detergent to the washing tub.

17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the detergent supply pump operates in a forward direction for a first period of time to supply the liquid detergent in the liquid detergent storage container to the washing tub via the first flow passages, the valve, and the second flow passage,

the detergent supply pump is stopped or operates in a backward direction for a second period of time to feed liquid detergent remaining in at least one of the first flow passages, the valve, and the second flow passage back to the liquid detergent storage container, and

the detergent supply pump again operates in a forward direction for a third period of time to remove residual liquid detergent remaining in at least one of the first flow passages, the valve, and the second flow passage by feeding the cleaning solution to the washing tub.

18. A washing method of a washing machine having a washing tub and a liquid detergent supply mechanism, wherein the liquid detergent supply mechanism includes:

at least one liquid detergent storage container that stores liquid detergent for supply to the washing tub;

a valve;

first flow passages connecting the valve and the liquid detergent storage container for feeding the liquid detergent stored in the liquid detergent storage container to the valve;

a cleaning solution supply passage for guiding cleaning solution to the valve, the cleaning solution removing residual liquid detergent not supplied to the washing tub;

a second flow passage connecting the valve and the washing tub for selectively guiding the liquid detergent or the cleaning solution passing through the valve to the washing tub; and

a detergent supply pump disposed on the second flow passage to generate a pressure differential for supplying the liquid detergent to the washing tub,

the method comprising;

operating the detergent supply pump in a forward direction for a first period of time to supply the liquid detergent in the liquid detergent storage container to the washing tub via the first flow passages, the valve, and the second flow passage;

stopping or operating the detergent supply pump in a backward direction for a second period of time to feed the liquid detergent remaining in at least one of the first flow passages, the valve, and the second flow passage back to the liquid detergent storage container; and

again operating the detergent supply pump in a forward direction for a third period of time to remove residual liquid detergent remaining in at least one of the first flow passages, the valve, and the second flow passage by feeding the cleaning solution to the washing tub.