Washing machine

• US 9,702,077 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Doh, Young Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTERHOUT, BENJAMIN LEE
• Application Number:
  US13/129,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20110277515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 68 3 R, 68 13 R, 68 17 R
• 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 39/08 Liquid supply or discharge arrangements supply of soap or other washing agents D06F39/02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine which comprises: an auxiliary receiving platform which is provided on a water-supply flow pathway for the supply of washing water, and which constitutes a container structure able to support a solid additive when such an additive is introduced; and an additive storage unit which is fastened to the underside of the auxiliary receiving platform, and which stores washing water in which the solid additive has been dissolved. Further, the washing machine can use solid additives such as sheet-shaped softeners.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

an auxiliary receiving platform which is provided on a water-supply flow pathway for the supply of washing water, and which constitutes a container structure configured to support a solid non-powdered additive when such an additive is introduced;

an additive storage unit which supports the auxiliary receiving platform, and which is configured to store washing water to dissolve the solid non-powdered additive; and

a siphon tube protruded upward from a bottom surface of the additive storage unit, the bottom surface being provided beneath the auxiliary receiving platform, wherein the auxiliary receiving platform includes;

at least one opening port formed at a bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform configured to directly introduce a liquid additive into the additive storage unit when the liquid additive is introduced; and

a support plate formed at one side of the opening port configured to support the solid non-powdered additive when the solid non-powdered additive is introduced in order to ensure a sufficient amount of time for the solid non-powdered additive to be dissolved in the firstly supplied water, wherein an upper opening end of the siphon tube is higher than the bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform, the opening port, and the support plate, wherein the support plate has a plurality of holes which are smaller than the opening port, wherein the support plate is provided at the bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform, wherein an upper end of the opening port and an upper end of the support plate are provided on a same horizontal plane, and further includes;

water supply control valves that are mounted on the water-supply flow pathway, and are opened until the level of water in the additive storage unit reaches a first water level within a range higher than the inner bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform and lower than an upper opening end of the siphon tube, closed for a predetermined period of time during which the solid non-powdered additive can be dissolved in the supplied water, and then re-opened to supply the solid non-powdered additive-dissolved washing water into a washing tub through the siphon tube; and

a controller to control the water supply control valves to be operated in a stepwise manner, wherein the auxiliary receiving platform has an overflow surface which is relatively shallower than the position of the support plate and the opening port, and a plurality of drainage holes are formed on the overflow surface to introduce the solid non-powdered additive into the additive storing unit, wherein the upper end of the opening port and the upper end of the support plate are positioned on the horizontal plane which is lower than an upper end of the plurality of drainage holes, wherein the plurality drainage holes are smaller than the opening port, wherein the siphon tube is provide below the overflow surface, and wherein the siphon tube is overlapped with at least one of the drainage holes in a vertical direction.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the support plate has a mesh-type structure to enable an upward and a downward flow of water.

3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein an operation time for each step is entered and set into the controller to open, close, and re-open the water supply control valves at regular time intervals.

4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein a water level sensor for detecting whether water reaches the first water level is further provided within a detergent box, and

the controller detects a signal transmitted from the water level sensor and controls the water supply control valves to be opened, closed, and re-opened in a stepwise manner.

5. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the overflow surface and the bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform are parallel.

6. A washing machine comprising:

an auxiliary receiving platform which is provided on a water-supply flow pathway for the supply of washing water, and which constitutes a container structure able to support a solid non-powdered additive when such an additive is introduced;

an additive storage unit which supports the auxiliary receiving platform, and which is able to store washing water to dissolve the solid non-powdered additive;

a siphon tube protruded upward from a bottom surface of the additive storage unit, the bottom surface being provided beneath the auxiliary receiving platform; and

at least one opening port formed at a bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform configured to directly introduce a liquid additive into the additive storage unit when the liquid additive is introduced, wherein

a support plate formed at one side of the opening port configured to support a solid additive when the solid additive is introduced in order to ensure a sufficient amount of time for the solid additive to be dissolved in the firstly supplied water, wherein an upper opening end of the siphon tube is higher than the bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform, the opening port, and the support plate, wherein the support plate has a plurality of holes which are smaller than the opening port, wherein the support plate is provided at the bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform, wherein an upper end of the opening port and an upper end of the support plate are provided on a same horizontal plane;

the auxiliary receiving platform further includes an additive flow portion adapted to allow the liquid additive to flow to the additive storage unit,

the auxiliary receiving platform further includes an additive seat portion for placing the solid non-powdered additive thereon, and

the additive seat portion is recessed downward to accommodate the solid non-powdered additive thereon, wherein an upper opening end of the siphon tube is higher than the additive flow portion and the additive seat portion, wherein the additive flow portion includes additive flow holes adapted to allow the liquid additive to flow to the additive storage unit, wherein the additive seat portion includes flow holes adapted to allow dissolved solid non-powdered additive to flow to the additive storage unit, wherein additive flow holes are smaller than the flow holes of the additive seat portion, wherein the additive flow holes are formed in plural form, and the plurality of additive flow holes are spaced apart at predetermined intervals, wherein the additive flow portion and additive seat portion are provided on a same plane, and further includes;

water supply control valve that are mounted on the water supply flow pathway, and are opened until the level of water in the additive storage unit reaches a first water level within a range higher than the inner bottom surface of the auxiliary receiving platform and lower than an upper opening end of the siphon tube, closed for a predetermined period of time during which the solid additive can be dissolved in the supplied water, and then re-opened to supply the solid additive-dissolved washing water into a washing tub through the siphon tube; and

a controller to control the water supply control valves to be operated in a stepwise manner, wherein the upper end of the opening port and the upper end of the support plate are positioned on the horizontal plane which is lower than an upper end of the flow holes of the additive flow portion, wherein the flow holes of the additive seat portion are smaller than the opening port, wherein the siphon tube is provided below the additive flow portion, and wherein the siphon tube is overlapped with at least one of the flow holes of the additive flow portion in a vertical direction.

7. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the additive flow portion includes a sloping surface sloped toward the additive flow holes.

8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the flow holes of the additive seat portion are formed in plural form so as to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals.

9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the additive seat portion includes a sloping surface sloped toward the flow holes of the additive seat portion.

10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the height of the additive seat portion is different from the height of the additive flow portion.

11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the height of the additive seat portion is less than the height of the additive flow portion.

12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the additive flow portion is adapted to allow washing water overflowing the additive seat portion to flow to the additive storage unit.

13. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the solid non-powdered additive is a single piece having a prescribed shape.