Detergent supply apparatus and washing machine having the same

• US 20110120196A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Doo
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A detergent supply apparatus and a washing machine having the same wherein residual water is not present in a liquid detergent containing unit. The detergent supply apparatus includes a detergent box and at least one liquid detergent containing unit provided in the detergent box to move a liquid detergent using a siphon phenomenon. The liquid detergent containing unit includes a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action, a siphon cap coupled to the siphon pipe, and at least one residual water hole formed through a bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit. The siphon cap includes at least one cap protrusion configured to be fitted into the residual water hole. A gap is defined between the residual water hole and the cap protrusion such that residual water is discharged from the liquid detergent containing unit through the gap.

Claims

1. A detergent supply apparatus comprising:

a detergent box; and

at least one liquid detergent containing unit provided in the detergent box to move a liquid detergent using a siphon phenomenon,

wherein the liquid detergent containing unit comprises a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action, a siphon cap coupled to the siphon pipe, and at least one residual water hole formed through a bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit,

the siphon cap comprises at least one cap protrusion configured to be fitted into the residual water hole, and

at least one gap is defined between the residual water hole and the cap protrusion such that residual water is discharged from the liquid detergent containing unit through the gap.

2. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap protrusion protrudes downward along part of a circumference of the siphon cap, and the residual water hole has a shape corresponding to that of the cap protrusion.

3. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gap is defined between at least one outer side of the cap protrusion and at least one inner side of the residual water hole.

4. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the siphon pipe is disposed at a center of a siphon installation part protruding downward from the bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit, and

the residual water hole is disposed at the siphon installation part at which the cap protrusion is mounted.

5. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gap has a size of about 0.05 mm to about 0.5 mm.

6. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cap protrusion has a length of about 3 mm to about 7 mm between opposite ends thereof.

7. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the siphon pipe protrudes downward from the bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit to accelerate the siphon action.

8. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent containing unit comprises a separation type liquid detergent containing unit detachably provided in the detergent box.

9. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent containing unit comprises at least one integral liquid detergent containing unit integrally provided in the detergent box.

10. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the integral liquid detergent containing unit comprises a main washing liquid detergent containing unit to contain a main washing liquid detergent,

the siphon cap comprises a cap liquid unit coupled to the siphon pipe, and

the cap liquid unit comprises a unit body having a supply hole to inject a liquid detergent, a first siphon cap provided at a bottom of the unit body, the first siphon cap being coupled to the siphon pipe, and a foreign matter filter extending downward from one end of the unit body.

11. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the integral liquid detergent containing unit comprises a rinse containing unit to contain a rinse or a decolorant,

the siphon cap comprises a rinse cap coupled to the siphon pipe,

the rinse cap comprises a rinse injection unit to inject a rinse and a reserve detergent containing unit to contain a reserve detergent, and

the rinse injection unit comprises a second siphon cap provided at a bottom thereof, the second siphon cap being coupled to the siphon pipe.

12. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reserve detergent containing unit is integrally formed at a rear of the rinse cap.

13. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a detergent box detachably coupled into one side of the cabinet; and

at least one liquid detergent containing unit provided in the detergent box to move a liquid detergent using a siphon phenomenon,

wherein the liquid detergent containing unit comprises a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action, a siphon cap coupled to the siphon pipe, and a residual water removal unit to remove residual water from the liquid detergent containing unit, and

the residual water removal unit comprises at least one residual water hole formed through a bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit, at least one cap protrusion provided at the siphon cap such that the cap protrusion is fitted into the residual water hole, and at least one residual water discharge unit formed between the residual water hole and the cap protrusion to function as a discharge channel through which residual water is discharged.

14. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the cap protrusion protrudes downward along part of a circumference of the siphon cap, and the residual water hole has a shape corresponding to that of the cap protrusion.

15. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the residual water discharge unit is formed between at least one outer side of the cap protrusion and at least one inner side of the residual water hole.

16. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein a gap defined between at least one inner side of the residual water hole and at least one outer side of the cap protrusion has a size of about 0.05 mm to about 0.5 mm.

17. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the cap protrusion has a length of about 3 mm to about 7 mm between opposite ends thereof.

18. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the siphon pipe protrudes downward from the bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit to accelerate the siphon action.

19. A detergent supply apparatus comprising:

a detergent box; and

at least one liquid detergent containing unit provided in the detergent box to move a liquid detergent using a siphon phenomenon, wherein

the liquid detergent containing unit comprises at least one residual water hole formed through a bottom thereof and at least one hole insertion part configured to be inserted into the residual water hole, and

at least one gap is defined between the residual water hole and the hole insertion part such that residual water is discharged from the liquid detergent containing unit through the gap.

20. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the gap has a size of about 0.05 mm to about 0.5 mm.

21. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the gap is defined between at least one outer side of the hole insertion part and at least one inner side of the residual water hole.

22. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

the liquid detergent containing unit further comprises a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action and a siphon cap coupled to the siphon pipe, and

the hole insertion part is formed at a lower part of the siphon cap.

23. A detergent supply apparatus comprising:

a detergent box; and

at least one liquid detergent containing unit provided in the detergent box to move a liquid detergent using a siphon phenomenon, wherein

the liquid detergent containing unit comprises a residual water discharge slit formed at a bottom thereof to selectively discharge residual water from the liquid detergent containing unit.

24. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the residual water discharge slit is disposed at a lowest position of a bottom of the liquid detergent containing unit.

25. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the residual water discharge slit has a width of about 0.05 mm to about 0.5 mm.

26. The detergent supply apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the liquid detergent containing unit further comprises a siphon pipe to induce a siphon action and a siphon cap coupled to the siphon pipe.