WASHING MACHINE

• US 20150252514A1
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: SEO, Bosung, IM, Myunghun
• Granted Patent: US 9,951,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• 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 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/08 Liquid supply or discharge arrangements supply of soap or other washing agents D06F39/02

Abstract

A washing machine including a cabinet having an inlet port formed at a front panel for laundry insertion thereinto and a door to open or close the inlet port; a tub within the cabinet for storing wash water; a drum in communication with the inlet port, and rotatably provided within the tub; and a detergent dispenser provided below the inlet. The detergent dispenser includes a dispenser case having an opening portion on an upper surface thereof; and at least one of an automatic detergent supply unit and a manual detergent supply unit mounted at the dispenser case. The automatic detergent supply unit includes a container provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for storing liquid detergent; a container receiving portion to receive the container; and a pumping device to selectively discharge liquid detergent discharged from the outlet port of the container by a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet having an inlet port formed at a front panel for laundry insertion thereinto and a door to open or close the inlet port;

a tub within the cabinet for storing wash water;

a drum in communication with the inlet port, and rotatably provided within the tub; and

a detergent dispenser provided below the inlet,

wherein the detergent dispenser comprises;

a dispenser case having an opening portion on an upper surface thereof; and

at least one of an automatic detergent supply unit and a manual detergent supply unit mounted at the dispenser case, and

wherein the automatic detergent supply unit comprises;

a container provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for storing liquid detergent;

a container receiving portion to receive the container; and

a pumping device to selectively discharge liquid detergent discharged from the outlet port of the container by a predetermined amount.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein a pump module is provided within the cabinet, and

the pump module comprises at least one of:

a circulation pump to circulate wash water or wash water mixed with detergent to the tub; and

a drain pump to discharge wash water, or wash water mixed with detergent that has passed through the tub, outside of the cabinet.

3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein a connecting passage is provided with the cabinet and comprises at least one of:

a first detergent supply passage connecting the detergent dispenser and a bottom surface of the tub in order to supply detergent from the detergent dispenser to the bottom surface of the tub; and

a second detergent supply passage connecting the detergent dispenser and the remaining part of the tub in order to supply detergent from the detergent dispenser to the remaining part of the tub.

4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein a water passage is provided with the cabinet and comprises at least one of:

a first water passage connecting a water source and the tub on order to supply wash water from the water source to the tub; and

a second water passage connecting the water source and the detergent dispenser in order to supply wash water from the water source to the detergent dispenser,

wherein a water valve is provided in at least one of the first water passage and second water passage.

5. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein a detergent inlet port is provided on a bottom surface of the tub to flow detergent thereinto.

6. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein detergent in at least one of the automatic detergent supply unit and the manual detergent supply unit is supplied to the bottom surface of the tub through the first detergent supply passage.

7. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein detergent in at least one of the automatic detergent supply unit and the manual detergent supply unit is supplied to the remaining part of the tub through the second detergent supply passage.

8. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the first detergent supply passage comprises a backflow prevention device to block wash water discharged from the tub from entering the detergent dispenser.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the container receiving portion comprises a mounting portion on an upper surface thereof for mounting the container.

10. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the pumping device is provided in the container receiving portion.

11. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the container receiving portion comprises:

a water supply port to receive wash water thereinto; and

a water drain port to output the wash water or wash water mixed with detergent therefrom.

12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the container receiving portion further comprises:

a boss portion accommodating a discharge portion for discharging liquid detergent; and

an internal passage connecting the water supply port and the water drain port, and in communication with the boss portion to flow the discharged liquid detergent from the discharge portion thereinto.

13. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein a plurality of containers are provided therein, and at least one container thereof stores detergent used during the washing, and another container stores detergent used during preliminary washing and rinsing.

14. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a grip portion at an upper portion thereof.

15. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the container is detachably coupled to an upper portion of the container receiving portion.

16. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the container receiving portion further comprises a container support frame forming an insertion space for the container.

17. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the automatic detergent supply unit comprises:

a drive unit to drive the pumping device; and

a coupler to connect the drive unit and pumping device when the container is mounted on the mounting portion.

18. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the drive unit comprises:

a motor housing provided in the container receiving portion; and

a drive motor accommodated into the motor housing, and provided with a drive shaft protruded to an outside of the motor housing to be connected to the pumping device by the coupler.

19. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the automatic detergent supply unit comprises:

a passage forming plate coupled to a bottom surface of the container to cover the outlet port, and

wherein the passage forming plate comprises;

an inlet portion facing the outlet port for flowing the liquid detergent thereinto;

a discharge portion to discharge the liquid detergent by the pumping device;

a supply passage connecting the inlet portion and the discharge portion in order to transfer the liquid detergent flowed into the inlet portion to the discharge portion; and

a receiving space formed on the supply passage to receive the pumping device.

20. The washing machine of claim 19, wherein the pumping device is provided with a gear pump to transmit liquid detergent flowed into the inlet portion to the discharge portion, and

the gear pump comprises a first and a second gear received into the receiving space, and rotatably supported by respective rotation shafts, and coupled to each other in an engaged manner.

21. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the coupler comprises:

a driving gear disposed at an upper portion of the drive unit to be coupled to a drive shaft of the drive unit; and

a driven gear disposed at a lower portion of the pumping device to be coupled to the driving gear in an engaged manner when the container is mounted on the mounting portion.

22. The washing machine of claim 21, wherein one of the rotation shafts of the gear pumps is protruded through the passage forming plate, and the driven gear is coupled to an end portion of the protruded rotation shaft.

23. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the automatic detergent supply unit further comprises an agitator rotatably provided within the container.

24. The washing machine of claim 23, wherein one of the rotation shafts of the gear pumps is protruded into the container through the passage forming plate, and the agitator is coupled to an end portion of the protruded rotation shaft.