Detergent dissolution device for laundry treating apparatus

• US 9,487,904 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Naeun, Kim, Dongwon, Jo, Mingyu
• Primary Examiner(s): BARR, MICHAEL E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adhlakha, Rita
• Application Number:
  US14/039,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20140096572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 137/624.18, 137/625, 137/625.46, 137/625.11, 137/597
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 31/00 Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is provided. The laundry treating apparatus may include a detergent storage device positioned below an introduction port for introducing laundry into and removing laundry from a washing tub of the apparatus, a detergent dissolution device to dissolve detergent in water, and a flow path switching valve to selectively open a flow path for dissolution of the detergent and a flow path for supply of the dissolved detergent and washing water solution to the washing tub.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet

a tub provided in the cabinet;

a drum rotatably provided in the tub and configured to receive laundry therein through an opening in the tub and a corresponding opening in the cabinet;

a detergent storage device provided below the opening in the cabinet;

a water supply device configured to supply water to the detergent storage device; and

a detergent dissolution device configured to dissolve detergent discharged from the detergent storage device in water supplied by the water supply device and to then supply a mixed water and detergent titian to the tub,

wherein the detergent dissolution device includes;

a dissolution box configured to receive the mixed water and detergent solution discharged from the detergent storage device;

a dissolution flow path and a pump configured to discharge the mixed water and detergent solution from the dissolution box and to then resupply the mixed water and detergent solution back to the dissolution box so as to circulate the mixed water and detergent solution and dissolve the detergent in the water;

a tub supply flow path to supply the mixed water and detergent solution from the dissolution box to the tub; and

a switching valve provided at a branch point of the tub supply flow path and the dissolution flow path to selectively open the tub supply flow path and the dissolution flow path.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dissolution box is positioned below the detergent storage device and below a maximum water level of the tub, and the tub supply flow path is arranged such that the mixed water and detergent solution are supplied to the tub from a position above the maximum water level of the tub.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dissolution flow path includes:

a first dissolution flow path to guide the mixed water and detergent solution received in the dissolution box from the dissolution box to the pump; and

a second dissolution flow path to guide the mixed water and detergent solution discharged from the pump to the dissolution box.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the dissolution box includes:

a first flow bath connector connected to the first dissolution flow path and arranged on a bottom surface or a side surface of the dissolution box; and

a second flow path connector connected to the second dissolution flow path and fixed to an upper surface of the dissolution box.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the dissolution box further includes an inclined surface to connect the second flow path connector to the first flow path connector.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, further including a water level sensor configured to sense a water level in the dissolution box.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detergent storage device includes:

a storage door rotatably coupled to the cabinet and positioned below the opening formed in the cabinet;

a detergent box provided on the storage door to receive and store the detergent and to receive water from the water supply device; and

a discharge flow path coupled to the detergent box to supply the mixed water and detergent solution from the detergent box to the dissolution box.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein the detergent box is detachably coupled to the storage door.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tub supply flow path is blanched from the second dissolution flow path and is connected to the tub, and wherein the switching valve is provided at the branch point of the tub supply flow path the dissolution flow path to control opening and closing of the second dissolution flow path and the tub supply flow path.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detergent dissolution device further includes a flow path switching valve to connect the second dissolution flow path and the tub supply flow path to the pump, and to selectively open the second dissolution flow path and the tub supply flow path.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flow path switching valve includes:

a chamber having a pump communication hole formed therein, wherein the mixed water and detergent solution discharged from the pump is introduced into the chamber through the pump communication hole;

a cover to connect the second dissolution flow path and the tub supply flow path to the chamber; and

a valve, including;

a valve body configured to reciprocate between the cover and the pump communication hole in response to a pressure in the chamber;

a flow path opening hole provided in the valve body; and

a valve gear configured to rotate the valve body so as to align the flow path opening hole with one of the second dissolution flow path or the tub supply flow path.

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, further including:

a upper gear coupling portion provided on the cover; and

a lower gear coupling portion provided on the chamber, surrounding the pump communication hole, wherein the valve gear includes;

a cylindrical gear body having an open top and an open bottom, the cylindrical gear body being fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the valve;

an upper gear provided at an upper end of the gear body and coupled to the upper gear coupling portion of the cover to rotate the gear body by a predetermined angle in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction; and

a lower gear provided at a lower end of the gear body and coupled to the lower gear coupling portion of the cover to rotate the gear body by a predetermined angle in the one of the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction generated by coupling between the upper gear and the upper gear coupling portion.

13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flow path switching valve further includes:

a magnetic force generator provided on one of the valve or the chamber; and

a magnetic force sensor provided on the other of the valve or the chamber to sense magnetic force generated the magnetic force generator and sense a corresponding position of the flow path opening hole.

14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a drainage flow path that guides wash water stored in the tub for discharge from the tub;

a circulation pump that pressurizes the wash water discharged to the drainage flow path; and

a circulation flow path that connects the circulation pump to the tub to inject the wash water pressurized by the circulation pump back into the drum.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

an end of the circulation flow path connected to the tub is positioned below a center line passing through a center of the opening in the tub and parallel with an installation surface of the laundry treating apparatus; and

an end of the tub supply flow path connected to the tub is positioned above the center line.

16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein only one valve used to selectively open the tub supply flow path and the dissolution flow path.

17. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein additional water is not provided to the dissolution box.