AU2022481285A1

AU2022481285A1 - Laundry treating apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2022481285A1
Application number: AU2022481285A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sungwoon Jung; Kunwoo Kim; Younghun Kim
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2022-11-11
Filing date: 2022-12-12
Publication date: 2024-05-30
Also published as: WO2024101517A1; KR20240069334A

Abstract

: Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet including a top cover having a laundry inlet defined therein, a tub, a first storage that is at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and stores first detergent therein, a second storage that is disposed inside the cabinet and stores second detergent therein, wherein the second storage is in communication with the tub, a detergent pump disposed inside the cabinet, wherein the detergent pump is connected to the first storage and allows the first detergent to flow, a detergent pipe that connects the detergent pump with the second storage and guides the first detergent to the second storage, and a water supply pipe that guides water supplied from a water supply source to the second storage, wherein the first detergent and the second detergent are mixed with water inside the second storage and discharged to a tub inlet. Representative Drawing: FIG. 12

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[Title]

LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

[Technical Field]

[1] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, and more particularly, to a laundry treating apparatus including a detergent supply for supplying detergent.

[Background]

[2] A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that may perform a washing course to remove contaminants from laundry by putting clothes, bedding, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as the laundry) into a drum. In addition to the washing course, the laundry treating apparatus may perform a rinsing course, a dehydration course, a drying course, and the like.

[3] The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet that forms an outer appearance of the apparatus, a tub disposed inside the cabinet, and a drum that is rotatably disposed inside the tub and accommodates the laundry therein.

[4] The laundry treating apparatus may include a detergent supply that injects detergent into the tub or the drum to perform the washing course or the like. When the drum rotates while washing water and the detergent are supplied into the tub, the contaminants may be removed from the laundry because of friction between the laundry and the drum, the washing water, and the like.

[5] The detergent supply may have a detergent supply function to improve a washing effect. In this regard, the detergent may include any substance that enhances the washing effect, such as a laundry detergent that induces decomposition and removal of the contaminants, a softener that improves flexibility of laundry fabric, and a bleaching agent that reduces color contamination in the laundry. The detergent may be in both powder form and liquid form.

[6] In one example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2020-0007549 discloses a laundry treating apparatus including an existing detergent supply. The existing detergent supply includes a drawer that may be extended from the cabinet and a detergent flow channel defined in the drawer to guide the detergent to the tub. The existing manual detergent supply described above was a scheme in which the detergent introduced into the detergent channel is supplied to the tub along with water.

[7] However, in the existing manual detergent supply described above, a user directly injects the detergent during each washing course. Therefore, it was difficult to perform fixed amount injection, and there was inconvenience of having the user inject the detergent every time.

[8] To solve such problem, a detergent supply that automatically supplies the detergent for each washing course was developed. Furthermore, a scheme of adding the above-described automatic detergent supply to the laundry treating apparatus equipped with the existing manual detergent supply to allow the user to select any one detergent supply was also developed.

[9] When the automatic detergent supply is additionally installed as above, it is necessary to secure a space for each component of the automatic detergent supply to be installed, but the laundry treating apparatus with the manual detergent supply and other components installed has a limit in a space where the automatic detergent supply is able to be installed.

[10] For example, considering convenience in handling of the user, it may be advantageous to place the automatic detergent supply at an upper area of the cabinet, but because a control panel manipulated by the user or the like is disposed at the upper area of the cabinet, an installation space may be limited.

[11] In addition, in a case of a top loading-type laundry treating apparatus in which a laundry inlet into which the laundry is introduced is defined in a top surface of the cabinet, a vertical level of an upper end of the tub is higher than that in a front loading-type in which the laundry inlet is defined in a front surface of the cabinet, and the laundry inlet and a door that opens and closes the laundry inlet are defined and disposed at the upper area of the cabinet along with the control panel, so that the space for the installation of the automatic detergent supply may be more limited.

[12] To solve such space limitation, a structure in which, among the components of the automatic detergent supply, a storage bin where securing space is highly important for detergent storage is disposed outside the cabinet was attempted.

[13] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2018-0080013 discloses a laundry treating apparatus equipped with the automatic detergent supply including the detergent storage bin exposed to the outside of the cabinet as described above.

[14] The laundry treating apparatus has a structure in which the automatic detergent supply is added to the existing structure equipped with the manual detergent supply, and exposes the detergent storage bin in which the detergent is stored to the outside of the cabinet to secure the installation space for the automatic detergent supply.

[15] However, the automatic detergent supply includes various components in addition to the storage bin, and problems of securing space for the various components and efficient space utilization still remain.

[16] For example, the automatic detergent supply may include, in addition to the storage bin where the detergent is stored, a plurality of hoses for a flow of the detergent, a detergent pump for pumping the detergent, a mixing tank for mixing the detergent with water and providing the mixture to the tub, and the like. The problem of securing the installation space for such various components still remains.

[17] In relation thereto, in the laundry treating apparatus in the above-mentioned published patent, the mixing tank for mixing the detergent with water is disposed outside the laundry treating apparatus along with the storage bin. However, even outside the cabinet, a size of the storage bin needs to be reduced because of the mixing tank, and furthermore, the plurality of hoses connected to the mixing tank are still needed.

[18] In other words, when the laundry treating apparatus is equipped with the automatic detergent supply in addition to the manual detergent supply, developing a structure that may reduce the installation space by efficiently designing the automatic detergent supply and further efficiently utilize the secured space is an important task in the present technical field.

[Summary]

[Technical Problem]

[19] Embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may have a plurality of storages in which different types of detergents are stored and may be conveniently used by a user.

[20] In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus that is equipped with both an automatic detergent supply and a manual detergent supply, so that a user may conveniently use one of the detergent supplies selectively.

[21] In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus of a top loader type with an automatic detergent supply effectively installed.

[22] In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which at least a portion of an automatic detergent supply is exposed to the outside of a cabinet, thereby improving space utilization and improving detergent storage capacity.

[23] In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus including an automatic detergent supply with an improved structure so as

to be efficiently installed in a limited space.

[24] In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus that includes an automatic detergent supply that is efficiently disposed in a limited space and improves space utilization.

[Technical Solutions]

[25] A laundry treating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first storage and a second storage. The first storage is at least partially exposed to the outside of a cabinet, and the second storage is disposed inside the cabinet.

[26] The first storage is connected to a detergent pump. Accordingly, first detergent stored in the first storage may be automatically supplied to a tub by the detergent pump. One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a detergent pipe connecting the detergent pump with the second storage.

[27] That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first detergent in the first storage may be directly delivered to the second storage in the absence of a mixing tank via the detergent pump, and the first detergent may be mixed with the second detergent in the second storage and discharged into the tub.

[28] The first storage, the second storage, and the detergent pump may all be disposed rearwardly of the tub and may be installed in a top cover of the cabinet. For example, at least a portion of the first storage may be exposed upwardly of the top cover, and the second storage and the detergent pump may be formed inside the top cover and disposed in a cover space that constitutes a portion of the interior of the cabinet.

[29] A laundry treating apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a cabinet, a tub, a first storage, a second storage, a detergent pump, a detergent pipe, and a water supply pipe.

[30] The cabinet includes a top cover having a laundry inlet defined therein. That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry treating apparatus may be of a top loader type. The tub is disposed inside the cabinet and stores water therein, and has a tub inlet defined therein facing the laundry inlet.

[31] A first storage is at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and stores first detergent therein, and a second storage is disposed inside the cabinet and stores second detergent therein, and is in communication with the tub.

[32] A detergent pump is disposed inside the cabinet, and is connected to the first storage and allows the first detergent to flow. A detergent pipe connects the detergent pump with the second storage and guides the first detergent to the second storage, and a water supply pipe guides water supplied from a water supply source to the second storage. The first detergent and the second detergent are mixed with water inside the second storage and discharged to the tub inlet.

[33] The first storage, the second storage, and the detergent pump may be located rearwardly of the tub.

[34] The top cover may include a door that opens and closes the laundry inlet and a rear portion located at the rear of the door. The first storage may be disposed on the rear portion, and the second storage and the detergent pump may be disposed in a cover space defined inside the rear portion.

[35] The second storage and the detergent pump may be disposed inside the top cover and aligned along a width direction of the cabinet. The detergent pump may be disposed on one side of the second storage along the width direction, and a PCB module including a PCB may be disposed on the other side thereof.

[36] A water level detector that measures a water level of the tub may be disposed on the other side of the second storage. The detergent pump, the second storage, the water level detector, and the PCB module may be aligned along the width direction.

[37] A pump control module connected to the detergent pump may be disposed on one side of the second storage. The detergent pump and the pump control module may be arranged in a vertical direction on the one side of the second storage.

[38] The detergent pump may include a plurality of detergent pumps arranged along the width direction, and at least one of the plurality of detergent pumps and the pump control module may be arranged in the vertical direction. The detergent pump may include a plurality of detergent pumps aligned along the width direction on one side of the second storage.

[39] The second storage may be disposed in a cover space defined inside the top cover, a pump control module connected to the detergent pump may be disposed on one side of the second storage along a width direction of the cabinet, and a PCB module including a PCB may be disposed on the other side thereof.

[40] The detergent pump may be disposed on the one side of the second storage and may be seated on the pump control module. The detergent pump and the second storage may be aligned along a width direction of the cabinet.

[41] The detergent pump may include an inlet port for the first detergent to be introduced therethrough and an outlet port for the first detergent to flow out therethrough. The inlet port and the outlet port may be arranged in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the cabinet.

[42] The detergent pump may include a first coupling portion receiving a first coupling portion-passing member extending therethrough and fixed to the cabinet, and a second coupling portion fixed by a hook disposed in the cabinet.

[43] The detergent pump may include an inlet port that is coupled to an outflow pipe and allows the first detergent to be introduced therethrough, the inlet port may have a hollow defined therein, and include a suction hole defined in a circumferential surface thereof and in communication with the hollow, and an extension groove extending in the circumferential surface thereof from the suction hole toward one end thereof, and the first detergent of the outflow pipe may be supplied to the detergent pump along the extension groove, the suction hole, and the hollow.

[44] The first storage may include a storage body that stores the first detergent therein, wherein the storage body includes a detergent valve opened when the storage body is coupled to the cabinet and closed when the storage body is removed from the cabinet.

[45] The storage body may be mounted on or removed from the cabinet along a width direction of the cabinet. The first storage may further include a mounting portion disposed in the top cover, wherein the storage body is attachable to and detachable from the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion includes a fastening pipe inserted into the storage body,

[46] The detergent pump may receive the first detergent via an outflow pipe connected to the fastening pipe inside the cabinet.

[47] The detergent pump may be located under the first storage and connected to the storage body via the outflow pipe, and be located in a width direction of the cabinet relative to the second storage and connected to the second storage via the detergent pipe.

[48] The second storage may be located in front of a water supply valve connected to the water supply source and connected to the water supply pipe.

[49] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a water supply module including the water supply pipe and coupled to the water supply valve and the second storage, and the water supply module may have more water outlet holes for water to flow out to the second storage than water inlet holes for water to be introduced from the water supply valve.

[50] The second storage may include a receiving casing including a first chamber, and a drawer that accommodates the second detergent therein and is extendable from the first chamber.

[51] The first detergent introduced via the detergent pipe and water introduced via the water supply pipe may be mixed with the second detergent in the first chamber and discharged into the tub.

[52] The receiving casing may further include a second chamber connected to the detergent pipe and receiving the first detergent introduced thereinto, and the second chamber and the first chamber may be in communication with each other, so that the first detergent may be delivered to the first chamber.

[53] A laundry treating apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a cabinet including a top cover having a laundry inlet defined therein, a tub that is disposed inside the cabinet and stores water therein, wherein the tub has a tub inlet defined therein facing the laundry inlet, a first storage that is at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and stores first detergent therein, and a second storage that is disposed inside the cabinet and stores second detergent therein, wherein the second storage is in communication with the tub.

[54] The laundry treating apparatus includes a detergent pump disposed inside the cabinet, wherein the detergent pump is connected to the first storage and allows the first detergent to flow to the second storage. The detergent pump includes a plurality of detergent pumps disposed on one side of the second storage along a width direction of the cabinet.

[55] The plurality of detergent pumps may be aligned on the one side of the second storage along the width direction.

[56] A pump control module connected to the plurality of detergent pumps may be disposed on the one side of the second storage, and at least one of the plurality of detergent pumps may be stacked in a vertical direction with the pump control module.

[57] A water level detector that detects a water level of the tub may be disposed on the other side of the second storage along the width direction.

[58] A PCB module including a PCB may be disposed on the other side of the second storage along the width direction.

[59] A water level detector that detects a water level of the tub may be disposed on the other side of the second storage, and the second storage, the water level detector, and the PCB module may be aligned along the width direction.

[60] A laundry treating apparatus according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes a cabinet including a top cover having a laundry inlet defined therein, a tub that is disposed inside the cabinet and stores water therein, wherein the tub has a tub inlet defined therein facing the laundry inlet, a first storage that is at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and stores first detergent therein, a second storage that is disposed inside the cabinet and stores second detergent therein, wherein the second storage is in communication with the tub, a detergent pump disposed inside the cabinet, wherein the detergent pump is connected to the first storage and allows the first detergent to flow to the second storage, and a pump control module disposed inside the cabinet and connected to the detergent pump.

[61] The detergent pump and the pump control module may be disposed together on one side of the second storage along a width direction of the cabinet. The pump control module and the detergent pump may be aligned in a vertical direction on the one side of the second storage.

[62] The detergent pump may include a plurality of detergent pumps aligned along the width direction, and at least one of the plurality of detergent pumps and the pump control module may be arranged in the vertical direction. A PCB module including a PCB may be disposed on the other side of the second storage along the width direction.

[Advantageous Effects]

[63] The embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that may have the plurality of storages in which the different types of detergents are stored and may be conveniently used by the user.

[64] In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that is equipped with both the automatic detergent supply and the manual detergent supply, so that the user may conveniently use one of the detergent supplies selectively.

[65] In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus of the top loader type with the automatic detergent supply effectively installed.

[66] In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus in which at least the portion of the automatic detergent supply is exposed to the outside of the cabinet, thereby improving the space utilization and improving the detergent storage capacity.

[67] In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus including the automatic detergent supply with the improved structure so as to be efficiently installed in the limited space.

[68] In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that includes the automatic detergent supply that is efficiently disposed in the limited space and improves the space utilization.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[69] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[70] FIG. 2 shows a state in which a door is opened in a laundry treating apparatus in FIG. 1.

[71] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[72] FIG. 4 shows a first storage in which a storage body is attached or detached along a height direction in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[73] FIG. 5 shows a first storage in which a storage body is attached or detached along a width direction in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[74] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a storage body of a first storage in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[75] FIG. 7 shows a storage body with a storage cap in an open state in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[76] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a storage body in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[77] FIG. 9 shows an exploded perspective view of a first storage in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[78] FIG. 10 shows a mounting portion of a first storage in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[79] FIG. 11 shows a hook groove of a mounting portion in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[80] FIG. 12 shows the inside of a cabinet from which a mounting portion is removed in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[81] FIG. 13 shows a structure of connection between a first storage and a second storage in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[82] FIG. 14 shows a state in which a structure of connection between a first storage and a second storage is disassembled in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[83] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a detergent pump and a second storage disposed inside a cabinet in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[84] FIG. 16 is a top view of a detergent pump and a second storage in FIG. 14.

[85] FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of a detergent pump and a second storage in FIG. 14.

[86] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state in which a detergent pipe is removed from a detergent pump and a second storage in FIG. 14.

[87] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a width direction arrangement structure inside a cabinet in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[88] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a detergent pump in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[89] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the inside of a detergent pump in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[90] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a plurality of detergent pumps coupled with a detergent pipe in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[91] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a plurality of detergent pumps fixed inside a cabinet in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[92] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a first coupling portion of a detergent pump and a passing member receiving portion of a cabinet in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[93] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a second coupling portion of a detergent pump and a hook of a cabinet in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[94] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a second storage in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[95] FIG. 27 is a side view of a second storage in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[96] FIG. 28 is a rear perspective view of a second storage in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[97] FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of a second storage in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[98] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view showing an interior of a second storage in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[99] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a detergent detector disposed in a second storage in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Detailed Description]

[100] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs may easily implement the embodiment.

[101] However, the present disclosure is able to be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiment described herein. In addition, to clearly describe the present disclosure, components irrelevant to the description are omitted in the drawings. Further, similar reference numerals are assigned to similar components throughout the present document.

[102] Duplicate descriptions of the same components are omitted herein.

[103] In addition, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being 'connected to' or 'coupled to' another component herein, it may be directly connected to or coupled to the other component, or one or more intervening components may be present. On the other hand, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being 'directly connected to' or 'directly coupled to' another component herein, there are no other intervening components.

[104] Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the specific embodiment of the present disclosure only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

[105] As used herein, the singular forms 'a' and 'an' are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[106] It should be understood that the terms 'comprises', 'comprising', 'includes', and 'including' when used herein, specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, or combinations thereof.

[107] In addition, herein, the term 'and/or' includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items. Herein, 'A or B' may include 'A', 'B', or 'both A and B'.

[108] FIG. 1 shows an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which a door 110 is opened in the laundry treating apparatus in FIG. 1.

[109] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the laundry treating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 10. The cabinet 10 may have a space defined therein and may be formed approximately in a shape of a pillar.

[110] The cabinet 10 may include a top cover 100 having a laundry inlet 101 defined therein and a cabinet body 15. The cabinet body 15 may define therein a space inside which a tub 20, a drum 30, and the like are disposed, and have an open top surface.

[111] The cabinet body 15 may include a plurality of panels, such as a front panel, a rear panel, side panels, and the like, and a base or a bottom panel constituting a bottom thereof, and at least two panels may be molded integrally.

[112] The top cover 100 may form a top surface of the cabinet 10. At least a portion of the top cover 100 may be opened to define the laundry inlet 101 for introducing laundry into the cabinet 10. The top cover 100 may include a cover space 140, which will be described later, and the cover space 140 may correspond to a portion of an internal space of the cabinet 10.

[113] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the top cover 100 may have the door 110. The door 110 may be pivotable so as to cover the laundry inlet 101. That is, the door 110 may be disposed to open and close the laundry inlet 101.

[114] The cabinet 10 may have a control panel 50. The control panel 50 may include an output unit for providing information to a user and an input unit that is manipulated by the user to generate an input signal.

[115] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the top cover 100 may include a front portion 120 located in front of the door 110 and a rear portion 130 located at the rear of the door 110. The control panel 50 may be disposed on the front portion 120.

[116] In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a first storage 200 may be disposed on the rear portion 130 of the top cover 100. The first storage 200 may store first detergent therein and may supply the first detergent into the tub 20 when a washing course or the like of the laundry is performed.

[117] At least a portion of the first storage 200 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a storage body 210, where the first detergent is stored in the first storage 200, protrudes upward from the top cover 100.

[118] In the present disclosure, the inside of the cabinet 10 may be defined as an area that is not exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10. For example, the cover space 140 defined inside the top cover 100 is not exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10 and is able to be understood as a portion of the internal space of the cabinet 10.

[119] The storage body 210 may be exposed to the outside at the rear portion 130 of the top cover 100. The storage body 210 may protrude upward from the rear portion 130 of the top cover 100 and may be detachable from the cabinet 10.

[120] The user may store the first detergent in the storage body 210 while the storage body 210 is coupled to the cabinet 10, or remove the storage body 210 from the cabinet 10 to store the first detergent or wash the storage body 210.

[121] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[122] Referring to FIG. 3, the tub 20 and the drum 30 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10. The tub 20 may receive water therein and include a tub inlet 22 that opens toward the laundry inlet 101.

[123] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry inlet 101 may be located in the top cover 100, and the tub inlet 22 of the tub 20 may also be open upward. That is, the laundry treating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be of a top loader-type whose axis is perpendicular to the ground.

[124] The drum 30 may be disposed inside the tub 20. The drum 30 may be rotatably installed inside the tub 20, and may receive the laundry therein. The drum 30 may include a drum inlet 32 open toward the laundry inlet 101.

[125] Accordingly, the laundry input toward the laundry inlet 101 may pass through the tub inlet 22 and the drum inlet 32 and be received inside the drum 30. The tub 20 and the drum 30 may have a cylindrical shape with a space defined therein, and a plurality of communication holes 31 may be defined in a circumferential surface of the drum 30.

[126] When water is stored inside the tub 20, the drum 30 may share water with the tub 20 by allowing water in the tub 20 to flow thereinto through the communication holes 31.

[127] In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first storage 200 and a second storage 300 may be disposed at an upper portion of the cabinet 10. The top cover 100 may have the cover space 140 defined inside the rear portion 130 located at the rear of the door 110.

[128] The top cover 100 may be opened to expose the cover space 140 upward, and the first storage 200 may include a mounting portion 240 disposed to cover an open surface of the cover space 140. The first storage 200 may include the storage body 210 in which the first detergent is stored, and the storage body 210 may be mounted on the mounting portion 240on the top cover100.

[129] The second storage 300 may be located in the cover space 140. The first detergent in the first storage 200 may be supplied to the second storage 300. The second storage 300 may accommodate second detergent therein, and the first detergent and the second detergent may be discharged together toward the tub 20.

[130] Additionally, one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water supply 600 connected to a water supply source outside the cabinet 10, and the second storage 300 may receive water from the water supply 600. Accordingly, the first detergent and the second detergent may be mixed with water in the second storage 300 and then discharged into the tub 20.

[131] One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a driver 40. The driver 40 may be located beneath the tub 20 and may be connected to the drum 30 via a driving shaft that extends through the tub 20. In other words, the drum 30 may receive a rotational force from the driver 40 via the driving shaft inside the tub 20.

[132] A rotator 35 may be disposed on a bottom of the drum 30. The rotator 35 may cover at least a portion of a bottom surface of the drum 30 from above, and may rotate together with the drum 30 or independently of the drum 30.

[133] The rotator 35 may be connected to the driver 40. The driver 40 may include a transmission or the like, and the driving shaft may include a solid shaft and a hollow shaft 442 connected to the transmission. One of the solid shaft and the hollow shaft 442 may be connected to the drum 30, and the other may be connected to the rotator 35.

[134] In one example, a suspension 25 to support the tub 20 to the cabinet 10 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10. The suspension 25 may include an elastic body or the like and may reduce vibration transmitted from the tub 20.

[135] Accordingly, the vibration generated from the drum 30 or the driver 40 and transmitted via the tub 20 is attenuated via the suspension 25, so that an amount of vibration transmitted to the cabinet 10 may be reduced.

[136] Additionally, a drainage 700 may be connected to tub 20. The washing water containing contaminants as the washing course progresses may be discharged from the tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10 via the drainage 700.

[137] In one example, FIG. 4 shows the storage body 210 that is attached to or detached from the cabinet 10 along a height direction Z of the cabinet 10 in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 shows the storage body 210 that is attached to or detached from the cabinet 10 along a width direction Y of the cabinet 10 in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[138] Specifically, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage body 210 of the first storage 200 may be removable from the cabinet 10. The mounting portion 240 of the first storage 200 may be fixed to the top cover 100, and the storage body 210 may be attached to or detached from the mounting portion 240.

[139] There may be various attachment/detachment schemes of the storage body 210 and there may also be various attachment/detachment directions. For example, the storage body 210 may be removed from the cabinet 10 or coupled to the cabinet 10 along the height direction Z of the cabinet 10.

[140] Additionally, the storage body 210 may be removed from the cabinet 10 or coupled to the cabinet 10 along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. When the storage body 210 is attached or detached along the width direction Y, the first storage body 211 may be coupled to the cabinet 10, that is, the mounting portion 240, at one side in the width direction Y of the cabinet 10, and the second storage body 212 may be coupled to the mounting portion 240 at the other side in the width direction Y.

[141] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a wall or the like of a building may be located on both sides of the cabinet 10 in a residential environment of the user, and accordingly, the storage body 210 may be coupled to the cabinet 10 in a vertical direction, so that the storage body 210 may be effectively coupled to the cabinet 10 even when the space is limited on both sides.

[142] In addition, even in the case in which the storage body 210 is coupled along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10, it may be designed that an overall width of the storage body 210 coupled to the cabinet 10 is smaller than an overall width of the cabinet 10.

[143] Additionally, a movement distance in the width direction Y required for the coupling and the removal of the storage 210 may be defined within the overall width of the cabinet 10. That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage body 210 may move within the width of the cabinet 10 to be coupled to and be removed from the cabinet 10, so that the space may be effectively utilized.

[144] In one example, FIG. 6 shows the storage body 210 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 shows the storage body 210 with a storage cap 214 in an open state. The storage body 210 may include a space defined therein where the first detergent is stored. The storage body 210 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet , and a detergent injection hole 216 for the detergent to be introduced may be defined in the storage body 210.

[145] The storage body 210 may include a storage main body 213 and the storage cap 214. The storage main body 213 may include a space defined therein where the first detergent is stored, may include the detergent injection hole 216 defined therein, and may form at least a portion of an outer appearance of the storage body 210.

[146] The storage cap 214 may be pivotably disposed on the storage main body 213. The storage cap 214 may close or open the detergent injection hole 216. The storage cap 214 may form a portion of the outer appearance of the storage body 210.

[147] The storage body 210 may include an exterior part 215. The exterior part 215 may be disposed on the storage main body 213 to form a portion of the outer appearance of the storage body 210. The exterior part 215 may be disposed on one surface of the storage main body 213 along with the storage cap 214. In other words, the exterior part 215 and the storage cap 214 may together form the one surface of the storage body 210 and improve completeness of the outer appearance of the storage body 210.

[148] In one example, FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the storage body 210. The storage main body 213 may include a storage bottom 220 that forms a bottom surface of the storage body 210. The storage bottom 220 may be located on the mounting portion 240 and may be supported by the mounting portion 240.

[149] A detergent valve 225 may be disposed on the storage bottom 220. The detergent valve 225 may be in an open or closed state. The detergent valve 225 may allow the inside and the outside of the storage main body 213 to be in communication with each other in the open state. When the storage body 210 is attached or detached along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10, the detergent valve 225 may have a longitudinal direction approximately parallel to the width direction Y.

[150] A bottom inclined portion 221 inclined toward the detergent valve 225 may be formed at at least a portion of the storage bottom 220. The bottom inclined portion 221 may be formed to be inclined downward and may form at least the portion of the storage bottom 220.

[151] The detergent valve 225 may be located at a lowermost end of the storage bottom 220 because of the bottom inclined portion 221. The bottom inclined portion 221 may be inclined closer to the ground in a direction toward a center of the cabinet 10 along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10.

[152] In one example, the storage bottom 220 may include a bottom damper 223 that protrudes downwards toward the mounting portion 240. The bottom damper 223 may be made of a high-friction material such as rubber, or may be a high-elasticity body.

[153] The bottom damper 223 may support the storage body 210 from the mounting portion 240 and eliminate clearance between the storage body 210 and the mounting portion 240.

[154] The storage bottom 220 may have a variable protrusion 217. The variable protrusion 217 may protrude downward from the storage bottom 220, and an amount of

protrusion thereof may vary.

[155] For example, the storage body 210 may have a variable button 218 that is at least partially exposed to the outside, and a location of the variable protrusion 217 may vary in association with the variable button 218. The user may change a degree of protrusion of the variable protrusion 217 by manipulating the variable button 218.

[156] Whether the storage body 210 is able to be attached to or detached from the cabinet 10 or the mounting portion 240 may be determined depending on the amount of protrusion of the variable protrusion 217. For example, the variable protrusion 217 may be inserted into the storage body 210 or may protrude to the outside. When the variable protrusion 217 is in the protruding state, the storage body 210 is not able to be mounted on or removed from the cabinet 10. However, when the variable protrusion 217 is inserted into the storage body 210, the storage body 210 is able to be mounted on or removed from the cabinet 10.

[157] The storage body 210 may include a bottom side wall 222. The bottom side wall 222 may extend along a perimeter of the storage bottom 220 and may protrude toward the mounting portion 240. The bottom side walls 222 may be disposed at a front end and a rear end of the storage bottom 220. At least a portion of the storage bottom 220, such as the detergent valve 225, may not be visible from the outside at front and rear portions by the bottom side walls 222.

[158] FIG. 9 shows an exploded perspective view of the first storage 200. With reference to FIG. 9, each component of the first storage 200 will be described as follows.

[159] The first storage 200 may include the storage body 210 and the mounting portion 240. The storage body 210 may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10 and may store the first detergent therein. The mounting portion 240 may be fixed to the cabinet 10 and may form a portion of the cabinet 10.

[160] The storage body 210 may include a storage main body 213 inside which a space for storing the first detergent is defined. The storage main body 213 may include the detergent injection hole 216 that allows the inside and the outside to be in communication with each other.

[161] The detergent injection hole 216 may be defined in a top surface of the storage main body 213, and may be opened and closed by the storage cap 214 coupled to the storage main body 213. The exterior part 215 may be disposed in an area excluding the storage cap 214 of the top surface of the storage body 213, and the exterior part 215 and the storage cap 214 may together form one surface of the storage body 210.

[162] The storage bottom 220 may be disposed at a bottom of the storage body 213. The storage bottom 220 may be manufactured separately from the storage body 213 and be disposed to cover an open bottom surface of the storage body 213, or may be molded together with the storage body 213 and correspond to a portion of the storage body 213.

[163] The variable protrusion 217 may be disposed inside the storage body 213 or inside the storage bottom 220. The variable protrusion 217 may protrude downward from the storage bottom 220. The amount of protrusion of the variable protrusion 217 that protrudes downward from the storage bottom 220 may vary.

[164] The storage main body 213 may have the variable button 218 connected to the variable protrusion 217. The location of the variable protrusion 217 may vary depending on an operating state of the variable button 218. The user may manipulate the variable button 218 to be in a first state such that the variable protrusion 217 is located inside the storage bottom 220. When the user manipulates the variable button 218 to be in a second state, the variable protrusion 217 may vary in the location so as to protrude downward from the storage bottom 220.

[165] The mounting portion 240 may be located beneath the storage bottom 220. The mounting portion 240 may include a seating surface 252 on which the bottom inclined portion 221 of the storage bottom 220 is seated. The seating surface 252 may have an inclined shape to correspond to the bottom inclined portion 221.

[166] The mounting portion 240 may include a fastening pipe 242, and the fastening pipe 242 may extend through the seating surface 252 and a portion of the fastening pipe 242 may be disposed on the seating surface 252. The fastening pipe 242 may be inserted into the detergent valve 225 of the storage body 210. The detergent valve 225 may be open when the fastening pipe 242 is inserted thereinto, and may be closed when the fastening pipe 242 is removed therefrom.

[167] FIG. 10 shows an outer appearance of the mounting portion 240 of the first storage 200. The mounting portion 240 may form a top surface of the rear portion 130 of the top cover 100, and the storage body 210 may be coupled thereto.

[168] When the storage body 210 is coupled to the mounting portion 240 along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10, the fastening pipe 242 may extend along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10 on the seating surface 252. Accordingly, the fastening pipe 242 may be inserted into the detergent valve 225 of the storage body 210 that is attached and detached along the width direction Y.

[169] A central portion 241 protruding upward may be disposed at a center of the mounting portion 240 based on the width direction Y. That is, the central portion 241 may have a shape that protrudes upwardly of the seating surface 252. The storage body 210 may include a plurality of storage bodies, and may include the first storage body 211 and the second storage body 212.

[170] The first storage body 211 and the second storage body 212 may move toward the central portion 241 from both sides of the central portion 241 and be mounted on the mounting portion 240. A portion of the storage bottom 220 of the storage body 210 may be located on the central portion 241 and supported by the central portion 241. The fastening pipe 242 may extend through the central portion 241 in the width direction Y of the cabinet 10.

[171] The mounting portion 240 may include a protruding portion 250 that protrudes upward around the seating surface 252. The mounting portion 240 may include a stepped portion 253 that is stepped outwardly of a perimeter of the protruding portion 250. In other words, the seating surface 252 may have a shape that is depressed downwardly of a top surface of the protruding portion 250 in the mounting portion 240.

[172] FIG. 11 shows a hook groove 254 of the mounting portion 240. The hook groove 254 may be located on a side opposite to the central portion 241 described above around the seating surface 252. That is, the hook groove 254 may be defined at each of both ends of the mounting portion 240 in the width direction Y.

[173] Specifically, the mounting portion 240 may include the protruding portion 250 that protrudes upward such that the perimeter thereof is stepped, and the top surface of the protruding portion 250 may be depressed downward to form the seating surface 252 on which the storage bottom 220 of the storage body 210 is seated.

[174] Based on the width direction Y of the cabinet 10, the central portion 241 may be located at one end of the seating surface 252 and a protrusion support surface 255 may be located at the other end of the seating surface 252. The protrusion support surface 255 may correspond to a stepped surface formed between the seating surface 252 and a topmost surface of the protruding portion 250.

[175] The above-described hook groove 254 may be located in an outer side of the protruding portion 250 in the width direction Y. A fastening hook disposed on the storage body 210 may be inserted into the hook groove 254.

[176] The above-described stepped portion 253 may be formed around the protruding portion 250. The stepped portion 253 may include the stepped surface located downwardly of the topmost surface of the protruding portion 250 and located outwardly of the perimeter of the protruding portion 250. That is, the protruding portion 250 may be formed such that the topmost surface and the stepped surface thereof are stepped from each other.

[177] The stepped portion 253 may be defined at least at a front end and a rear end of the perimeter of the protruding portion 250. The bottom side wall 222 of the storage body 210 may be disposed to slide along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10 on the stepped portion 253. That is, the bottom side wall 222 may be located on the stepped surface of the stepped portion 253 and slide, and may be supported by the stepped surface.

[178] In one example, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a fastening structure of the storage body 210 to the mounting portion 240 will be described in detail as follows.

[179] First, in a process of mounting the storage body 210 removed from the cabinet back to the cabinet 10, the storage body 210 may be located on the mounting portion 240 and move along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. In such process, the bottom inclined portion 221 of the storage body 210 may be positioned on the seating surface 252 of the mounting portion 240.

[180] The movement of the storage body 210 in the width direction Y may be restricted by the central portion 241 protruding beyond the seating surface 252 in the mounting portion 240. Additionally, the bottom inclined portion 221 of the storage body 210 may be supported on the seating surface 252, so that a movement thereof toward the ground may be restricted.

[181] In one example, the storage body 210 may be mounted in the state in which the variable button 218 is manipulated and the variable protrusion 217 is inserted into the storage body 210, and the mounting process may be ended as the variable protrusion 217 protrudes downwards from the storage bottom 220 again from the mounting location.

[182] The variable protrusion 217 protruding downward from the storage bottom 220 may have the protrusion support surface 255 located on one side in a lateral direction of the cabinet 10. A movement of the storage body 210 to one side in the lateral direction of the cabinet 10 may be restricted because of a contact relationship between the protrusion support surface 255 and the variable protrusion 217.

[183] In one example, the above-mentioned hook groove 254 may be located at one side of the protruding portion 250 of the mounting portion 240 opposite to the central portion 241, and the hook groove 254 may have a depressed shape along the width direction Y.

[184] The fastening hook of the storage body 210 may be inserted into the hook groove 254 of the protruding portion 250 along the width direction Y during the mounting process of the storage body 210. As the fastening hook is inserted into the hook groove 254, an upward movement of the storage body 210 may be restricted.

[185] Additionally, during the mounting process of the storage body 210, the bottom side wall 222 of the storage body 210 may slide along the stepped portion 253 of the mounting portion 240, and thus the bottom side walls 222 may be respectively disposed in front of and at the rear of the protruding portion 250. Based on a structural relationship in which the protruding portion 250 is located between the bottom side walls 222 located at front and rear sides of the storage body 210, a movement of the storage body 210 in a front and rear direction X may be restricted.

[186] That is, movements of the storage body 210 in the front and rear direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z of the cabinet 10 may be entirely restricted during the mounting process onto the mounting portion 240, so that the storage body 210 may be fixed stably.

[187] In one example, FIG. 12 shows a state in which the storage body 210 and the mounting portion 240 of the first storage 200 are removed from the top cover 100 and thus the cover space 140 of the top cover 100 is exposed to the outside.

[188] The rear portion 130 of the top cover 100 may be located rearward of the door 110 and the laundry inlet 101. The cover space 140 may be defined inside the rear portion 130. The top cover 100 may have the cover space 140 with an open top surface. As the mounting portion 240 is coupled to the open top surface of the cover space 140, the cover space 140 may be closed, and at the same time, the mounting portion 240 may form a portion of the top cover 100.

[189] The first storage 200 may be disposed on the cover space 140, and the second storage 300 may be disposed inside the cover space 140. In addition to the second storage 300, a detergent pump 400 for allowing the first detergent in the first storage 200 to flow and the like may be installed inside the cover space 140.

[190] The top cover 100 may include the laundry inlet 101 described above defined therein. The top cover 100 may include a laundry inlet peripheral surface 102 surrounding the laundry inlet 101. The laundry inlet peripheral surface 102 may be recessed into the cabinet 10.

[191] The second storage 300 may include a drawer 340 that may be extended from the cover space 140. The drawer 340 may extend through the laundry inlet peripheral surface 102 and be exposed to the laundry inlet 101, and may be extended via the laundry inlet 101.

In addition to the second storage 300, a connection pipe connected to the fastening pipe 242, the water supply 600, and the like may be disposed in the cover space 140.

[192] In one example, FIG. 13 shows the second storage 300 connected to the first storage 200, and FIG. 14 shows the first storage 200 and the second storage 300 in FIG. 13 disassembled.

[193] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the second storage 300 disposed in the cover space 140 may be located under the first storage 200. For example, the second storage 300 may be located under the storage body 210 and the mounting portion 240.

[194] The first storage 200 located on the cover space 140 may be at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10 to store the first detergent therein, and the second storage 300 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10, may accommodate the second detergent therein, and may be in communication with the tub 20. The inside of the cabinet 10 may be defined to include the cover space 140.

[195] The second storage 300 may extend through the laundry inlet peripheral surface 102 described above from the cover space 140 and be in communication with the laundry inlet 101. Accordingly, the second storage 300 may be in communication with the inside of the tub 20 via the laundry inlet 101.

[196] The second storage 300 may include a receiving casing 310 disposed in the cover space 140 and in communication with the laundry inlet 101 via the laundry inlet peripheral surface 102, and a space in which the drawer 340 is accommodated may be defined in the receiving casing 310.

[197] One surface of the receiving casing 310 facing the laundry inlet 101 may be open to define a casing open surface 316. In the laundry inlet peripheral surfaces 102, an area corresponding to the casing open surface 316 may be open such that the inside of the receiving casing 310 and the laundry inlet 101 may be in communication with each other, and the drawer 340 may be retracted into the receiving casing 310 via the casing open surface 316.

[198] A portion of the casing open surface 316 may define a detergent outflow area through which the second detergent or the like flows out. For example, a lower area of the casing open surface 316 may define the detergent outflow area for the second detergent inside the receiving casing 310 to flow out toward the laundry inlet 101.

[199] One embodiment of the present disclosure may include the detergent pump 400. The detergent pump 400 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10. For example, the detergent pump 400 may be installed in the cover space 140. The detergent pump 400 may be connected to the first storage 200 and may allow the first detergent to flow. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first storage 200 may correspond to an automatic detergent supply that is connected to the detergent pump 400 and from which the first detergent is provided into the tub 20 by automatically flowing during washing.

[200] The detergent pump 400 may include a plurality of detergent pumps. As described above, the storage body 210 of the first storage 200 may include the first storage body 211 and the second storage body 212, and the detergent pump 400 may include a first detergent pump 401 connected to the first storage body 211 and a second detergent pump 402 connected to the second storage body 212.

[201] The detergent valve 225 of the storage body 210 may be coupled to the fastening pipe 242 of the mounting portion 240, the fastening pipe 242 may be connected to the detergent pump 400 via an outflow pipe 410 for the first detergent to flow, and the detergent pump 400 may be connected to the second storage 300 via a detergent pipe 420.

[202] The second storage 300 may include a detergent connection port 321 to which the detergent pipe 420 is connected. The detergent connection port 321 may have a connection part 325 that may increase rigidity of the detergent connection port 321 and strengthen the coupling between the detergent pipe 420 and the detergent connection port 321.

[203] The connection part 325 may function as a check valve, and accordingly, fluid that may contain the first detergent, the second detergent, and water may be prevented from flowing back to the detergent pump 400 via the detergent pipe 420 from the second storage 300.

[204] The receiving casing 310 of the second storage 300 may include a water connection port 322 to which a water supply pipe 620 is connected, and the water supply pipe 620 connected to the external water supply source may be connected to the water connection port 322, so that water may be supplied into the second storage 300.

[205] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, flow processes of the first detergent, the second detergent, and water will be described based on each component as follows.

[206] First, the first detergent may be stored inside the storage body 210 of the first storage 200, and the storage body 210 may have the detergent valve 225 that selectively allows the inside and the outside to be in communication with each other. The detergent valve 225 may basically maintain the closed state to prevent the first detergent in the storage body 210 from leaking.

[207] In the process of coupling the storage body 210 to the mounting portion 240 disposed on the cabinet 10, at least a portion of the fastening pipe 242 disposed in the mounting portion 240 may be inserted into or coupled to the detergent valve 225. The detergent valve 225 may be switched to the open state as the fastening pipe 242 is inserted thereinto.

[208] That is, when the storage body 210 is coupled to the mounting portion 240, the fastening pipe 242 of the mounting portion 240 may be inserted into the detergent valve 225 and be in communication with the inside of the storage body 210. One end of the fastening pipe 242 may be inserted into the detergent valve 225, and the other end of the fastening pipe 242 may extend through the mounting portion 240 and be positioned in the cover space 140.

[209] The other end of the fastening pipe 242 may be connected to the outflow pipe 410. The outflow pipe 410 may be disposed in the cover space 140. One end of the outflow pipe 410 may be coupled to the fastening pipe 242, and the other end thereof may be coupled to the detergent pump 400 located in the cover space 140.

[210] Accordingly, the first detergent flowing out from the storage body 210 via the detergent valve 225 may be supplied to the detergent pump 400 through the fastening pipe 242 and the outflow pipe 410. Such flow of the first detergent may be generated by the detergent pump 400.

[211] The detergent pump 400 may be located under the first storage 200 and connected to the storage body 210 via the outflow pipe 410, and may be controlled by a controller or the like in a situation in which the flow of the first detergent is required, such as the washing course, and may allow the first detergent to flow.

[212] The detergent pump 400 may be connected to the second storage 300 via the detergent pipe 420 and allow the first detergent to flow into the second storage 300. One end of the detergent pipe 420 may be coupled to the detergent pump 400, and the other end thereof may be coupled to the second storage 300.

[213] The detergent pump 400 may be fixed at various locations. The detergent pump 400 may be disposed inside the cover space 140 and may be located in the width direction Y of the cabinet 10 relative to the second storage 300.

[214] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of storage bodies 210 may include the first storage body 211 and the second storage body 212, and the outflow pipe 410 and the detergent pipe 420 may include a pair of outflow pipes and a pair of detergent pipes, respectively, to correspond thereto. In addition, the detergent pump 400 may also include the plurality of detergent pumps, and include the first detergent pump 401 and the second detergent pump 402.

[215] The first detergent flowing out of the first storage body 211 may be supplied to the second storage 300 via the first detergent pump 401, and the first detergent flowing out of the second storage body 212 may be supplied to the second storage 300 via the second detergent pump 402.

[216] That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first detergent stored in the first storage 200 may be delivered to the second storage 300 by the detergent pump 400, and the first detergent may be supplied into the tub 20 via the second storage 300.

[217] In one example, the receiving casing 310 of the second storage 300 may include a first space 313 for receiving the second detergent therein. The above-described drawer 340 may be accommodated in the first space 313, and the drawer 340 may accommodate the second detergent therein.

[218] The first detergent flowing into the second storage 300 may be mixed with the second detergent and discharged together. Additionally, water supplied to the second storage 300 via the water supply pipe 620 described above may be mixed with the first detergent and/or the second detergent and then supplied to the tub 20.

[219] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first detergent in the first storage 200 needs to be diluted with water before being supplied to the tub 20 to prevent a situation in which damage to the laundry occurs as an undiluted solution is provided directly to the laundry.

[220] However, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the water supply pipe 620 is connected to the second storage 300 for the mixing of the second detergent and water. The first detergent in the first storage 200 may be directly put into the second storage 300 and diluted with water without the separate mixing tank for mixing with water.

[221] Accordingly, even without the separate mixing tank for mixing the first detergent with water, the first detergent may be diluted, and thus, the mixing tank may be effectively omitted. In addition to the mixing tank, the plurality of hoses through which the detergent and water flow may also be omitted, which is advantageous in terms of space utilization and design.

[222] In one example, FIG. 15 shows various components disposed in the cover space 140 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a flow channel structure of the detergent including the first detergent and the second detergent may be installed inside the cover space 140, and a water supply structure through which water flows may also be installed inside the cover space 140.

[223] In the cover space 140, various components such as a pump control module 510, a PCB module 520, and a water level detector 530 in addition to the detergent pump 400, the second storage 300, and the water supply 600 may be disposed. A detailed description of the pump control module 510 and the like will be made later.

[224] In one example, FIG. 16 shows an arrangement structure of the second storage 300 and the detergent pump 400 disposed in the cover space 140. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first storage 200, the second storage 300, and the detergent pump 400 may be located rearward of the tub 20.

[225] The top cover 100 may include the door 110 that opens and closes the laundry inlet 101 and the rear portion 130 located rearward of the door 110. The first storage 200 may be disposed on the rear portion 130, and the second storage 300 and the detergent pump 400 may be disposed in the cover space 140 defined inside the rear portion 130.

[226] The top cover 100 may include the laundry inlet 101 defined therein having a size corresponding to that of the tub inlet 22, and the control panel 50 may be disposed in front of the laundry inlet 101 for ease of use. The cover space 140 located at the rear of the laundry inlet 101 may be a space extending approximately along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10.

[227] In addition, because various components such as the detergent pump 400 and the second storage 300 are disposed in the cover space 140, it is important to efficiently design an arrangement relationship of the components.

[228] In relation thereto, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second storage 300 and the detergent pump 400 may be disposed inside the top cover 100 and may be aligned along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. The second storage 300 in communication with the laundry inlet 101 in the cover space 140 may be disposed approximately at a center of the cover space 140, and the detergent pump 400 may be disposed on one side in the width direction Y of the second storage 300.

[229] Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second storage 300 and the detergent pump 400 disposed together at the rear of the laundry inlet 101 may be efficiently disposed within the cover space 140 extending in the width direction Y.

[230] The detergent pump 400 may include the plurality of detergent pumps and the plurality of detergent pumps may be disposed together on one side in the width direction Y of the second storage 300. Additionally, the plurality of detergent pumps 400 may be aligned along the width direction Y. That is, the plurality of detergent pumps 400 may be disposed together on one side in the width direction Y of the second storage 300 and aligned along the width direction Y.

[231] In other words, the plurality of detergent pumps 400 and the second storage 300 may be aligned together along the width direction Y. Accordingly, various components excluding the detergent pump 400 may be disposed on the other side in the width direction Y of the second storage 300 inside the cabinet 10 including the cover space 140 defined therein, so that arrangement efficiency may be improved and manageability may be increased.

[232] In one example, one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the pump control module 510. The pump control module 510 may be disposed inside the cabinet , such as in the cover space 140, and may be connected to the detergent pump 400.

[233] The operation of the detergent pump 400 may be controlled by the pump control module 510. For example, the pump control module 510 may control the detergent pump 400 in the washing course of the laundry to supply the first detergent stored in the first storage 200 into the tub 20.

[234] The pump control module 510 may be directly connected to the control panel to control the control panel 50, or may be connected to the controller connected to the control panel 50 to exchange information with the controller.

[235] The pump control module 510 may be disposed on one side of the second storage 300 along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. That is, the pump control module 510 and the detergent pump 400 may be disposed together on one side in the width direction Y of the second storage 300 in the cover space 140.

[236] As the pump control module 510 is located on one side of the second storage 300 together with the detergent pump 400 in the cover space 140, a distance to the detergent pump 400 may be minimized and control efficiency may be improved, and as the pump control module 510 is able to be managed together with the detergent pump 400, ease of handling may be improved.

[237] In addition, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the pump control module 510 for controlling the detergent pump 400 may be formed separately from a main controller connected to the control panel 50, the driver 40, or the like, which may be advantageous for control accuracy of the pump 400 and construction of a control system.

[238] On one side of the second storage 300, the detergent pump 400 and the pump control module 510 may be arranged vertically. That is, the pump control module 510 and the detergent pump 400 may have a stacked relationship and may be installed inside the cabinet 10.

[239] When the detergent pump 400 includes the plurality of detergent pumps, at least one of the plurality of detergent pumps 400 arranged along the width direction Y and the pump control module 510 may be arranged vertically. At least one of the plurality of detergent pumps 400 may be mounted on the pump control module 510.

[240] With the stacked structure of the detergent pump 400 and the pump control module 510 as described above, the detergent pump 400 and the pump control module 510 may arranged efficiently in the limited space inside the cabinet 10, further in the space limited on one side of the second storage 300.

[241] When the plurality of detergent pumps 400 include the first detergent pump 401 and the second detergent pump 402, the first detergent pump 401 may be located farther from the second storage 300 than the second detergent pump 402. The second detergent pump 402 may be located between the first detergent pump 401 and the second storage 300.

[242] In the above arrangement, the pump control module 510 may form a stacked structure with the first detergent pump 401. The pump control module 510 may be disposed under the first detergent pump 401 to support the first detergent pump 401.

[243] Accordingly, the second detergent pump 402 may be located at a vertical level lower than that of the first detergent pump 401, and therefore, the detergent pipe 420 extending from the first detergent pump 401 may extend to easily pass through the second detergent pump 402.

[244] In one example, FIG. 17 is a rear view of the cover space 140. Referring to FIG. 17, the water supply 600 may include a water supply valve 610, and the water supply valve 610 may be disposed at the rear of the second storage 300 and be connected to the external water supply source via a rear surface of the cabinet 10.

[245] The second storage 300 and the water supply 600 may be arranged in the front and rear direction X, and thus, a distance between the water supply valve 610 and the second storage 300 may be minimized, which may be advantageous for the supply of water to the second storage 300.

[246] The water supply valve 610 disposed at the rear of the second storage 300 may be located in the width direction Y relative to the detergent pump 400. That is, the plurality of detergent pumps 400 and the water supply valve 610 may be aligned approximately along the width direction Y.

[247] In one example, FIG. 18 shows a state in which the plurality of pipes present in the cover space 140, such as the outflow pipe 410, the detergent pipe 420, and the water supply pipe 620, are removed in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 19 schematically shows an arrangement relationship between a plurality of components disposed in the cover space 140.

[248] One embodiment of the present disclosure may include the water level detector 530, and the water level detector 530 may be disposed on the other side of the second storage 300 along the width direction Y. The detergent pump 400 may be disposed on one side of the second storage 300 along the width direction Y, and the water level detector 530 may be disposed on the other side.

[249] The water level detector 530 may detect a level of water stored in the tub 20. The water level detector 530 may be coupled to the top cover 100 so as to be at least partially disposed in the cover space 140, and may detect the water level of the tub 20.

[250] The water level detector 530 may include a head and a detecting body. The head of the water level detector 530 may be disposed in the cover space 140, and the detecting body may extend from the head into the tub 20.

[251] It is advantageous for the water level detector 530 to at least partially extend in the vertical direction to detect the water level of the tub 20, and further, it is advantageous for the water level detector 530 extending in the vertical direction to have the head fixed upward of the tub 20.

[252] Accordingly, the head of the water level detector 530 may be coupled to the top cover 100 located upward of the tub 20 in the cabinet 10, and a space in which the head of the water level detector 530 is disposed may be secured in the cover space 140.

[253] However, to improve space utilization efficiency, because the detergent pump 400 and/or the pump control module 510 may be disposed on one side of the second storage 300 inside the cover space 140, the water level detector 530 may be disposed on the other side of the second storage 300.

[254] In one example, one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the PCB module 520, and the PCB module 520 may be disposed on the other side of the second storage 300 along the width direction Y. The detergent pump 400 may be disposed on one side of the second storage 300 along the width direction Y, and the PCB module 520 including a PCB may be disposed on the other side.

[255] The PCB module 520 may include the PCB and may be connected to the water level detector 530 and/or other sensors. The PCB module 520 may receive sensing values from the plurality of sensors and control the plurality of sensors.

[256] The PCB module 520 may be the main controller described above, or may be a separate control module that is connected to and spaced apart from the main controller. The PCB module 520 may be connected to various components that require electronic control in addition to the plurality of sensors.

[257] In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the water level detector 530 and the PCB module 520 may be disposed together on the other side in the width direction Y of the second storage 300, and the second storage 300, the water level detector 530, and the PCB module 520 may be aligned along the width direction Y.

[258] Furthermore, the plurality of detergent pumps 400, the second storage 300, the water level detector 530, and the PCB modules 520 described above are aligned together along the width direction Y of the cabinet 10, so that the plurality of components may be efficiently arranged in the cover space 140 located at the rear of the laundry inlet 101.

[259] The pump control module 510 and the PCB module 520, which have a signal connection relationship, that is, require wire connection, may be located at outermost edges of the cover space 140, respectively. That is, the pump control module 510 and the PCB module 520 may be located at ends in the width direction Y of the cover space 140, respectively.

[260] The top cover 100 may include the front portion 120, the rear portion 130, and side portions that connect the front portion 120 with the rear portion 130 on both sides in the width direction Y of the laundry inlet 101. The pump control module 510 and the PCB module 520 are located at the ends in the width direction Y of the cover space 140 so as to be easily connected to the components of the front portion 120 via the side portions using a wire.

[261] For example, the wire may extend from the front portion 120 to the rear portion 130 through the inside of the side portion, and the pump control module 510 and the PCB module 520 may be easily connected to the control panel 50 or the main controller via the wire extending through the side portion.

[262] In one example, FIG. 20 shows an outer appearance of the detergent pump 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The detergent pump 400 may include an inlet port 430 through which the first detergent is introduced and an outlet port 440 through which the first detergent flows out.

[263] The inlet port 430 of the detergent pump 400 may be coupled to the outflow pipe 410 to allow the first detergent to flow thereinto. A hollow 442 that serves as a flow path for the first detergent may be defined inside the inlet port 430, and a suction hole 444 and an extension groove 446 may be defined in a circumferential surface of the inlet port 430.

[264] The suction hole 444 may extend through the circumferential surface of the inlet port 430 and be in communication with the hollow 442. The extension groove 446 may extend from the suction hole 444 toward one end of the inlet port 430 in the circumferential surface.

[265] One end of the inlet port 430 may face the outflow pipe 410. That is, the extension groove 446 may be a groove extending from the suction hole 444 toward a distal end of the inlet port 430. The suction hole 444 may pass through a cross-section located at the distal end of the inlet port 430 and be in communication with the inside of the outflow pipe 410, by the extension groove 446.

[266] Specifically, the inlet port 430 may be coupled to the outflow pipe 410, and at least a portion of the inlet port 430 may be inserted into and coupled to the outflow pipe 410. That is, the circumferential surface of the inlet port 430 may be surrounded by an inner circumferential surface of the outflow pipe 410.

[267] Accordingly, the suction hole 444 defined to extend through the circumferential surface of the inlet port 430 may be in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outflow pipe 410, so that the first detergent may not be able to flow through the suction hole 444. However, one embodiment of the present disclosure may have the extension groove 446 extending from the suction hole 444 toward the distal end of the inlet port 430 in the circumferential surface.

[268] Because the extension groove 446 may be opened via the cross-section located at the distal end of the inlet port 430, the first detergent of the outflow pipe 410 may be supplied to the detergent pump 400 along the extension groove 446, the suction hole 444, and the hollow 442.

[269] In one example, FIG. 21 shows a pumping structure of the detergent pump 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inlet port 430 and the outlet port 440 may be arranged in a straight line parallel to the width direction Y of the cabinet 10. Accordingly, a flow resistance and a pressure loss of the first detergent flowing inside the detergent pump 400 may be minimized.

[270] Specifically, the first detergent flowing along the outflow pipe 410 may flow along the extension groove 446, the suction hole 444, and the hollow 442 of the inlet port 430. In one example, a first check body 457 that limits the flow of the first detergent in the inlet port 430 in one direction may be disposed inside the detergent pump 400.

[271] The first check body 457 may be connected to the inlet port 430, and when the first detergent of the inlet port 430 flows in one direction toward the outlet port 440, the first check body 457 may be open to allow the flow of thefirst detergent.

[272] Conversely, when the first detergent flows in a direction opposite to the one direction, that is, flows backwards, the first check body 457 may be closed to limit the flow of the first detergent. Inside the detergent pump 400, a first pump chamber 451 connected to the inlet port 430 may be disposed. The first detergent flowing along the inlet port 430 may be accommodated in the first pump chamber 451.

[273] In one example, the detergent pump 400 may include a pressure generator 453 for generating a positive pressure and a negative pressure. The pressure generator 453 may increase or decrease a pressure and may be in communication with the first pump chamber 451.

[274] That is, the pressure generator 453 may change a pressure of the first pump chamber 451, and thus a positive or negative pressure may be generated in the first pump chamber 451. When the negative pressure is generated in the first pump chamber 451, the first check body 457 may be opened and the first detergent of the inlet port 430 may flow into the first pump chamber 451.

[275] In one example, the detergent pump 400 may include a second pump chamber 452, and the second pump chamber 452 may be in communication with the first pump chamber 451. However, a second check body 458 may be disposed at a portion of connection between the first pump chamber 451 and the second pump chamber 452 to allow only a flow in one direction of the first detergent from the first pump chamber 451 to the second pump chamber 452.

[276] In other words, when the negative pressure is generated inside the first pump chamber 451 by the pressure generator 453, the first check body 457 may be opened and the first detergent of the inlet port 430 may flow into thefirst pump chamber 451.

[277] Thereafter, when the positive pressure is generated inside the first pump chamber 451 by the pressure generator 453, the second check body 458 may be opened and the first detergent of the first pump chamber 451 may flow into the second pump chamber 452. Even when the positive pressure is generated in the first pump chamber 451, because of the first check body 457, the first detergent does not flow back to the inlet port 430.

[278] The aforementioned outlet port 440 is in communication with the second pump chamber 452, so that the first detergent of the second pump chamber 452 may flow along the detergent pipe 420 via the outlet port 440. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inlet port 430, the first pump chamber 451, the second pump chamber 452, and the outlet port 440 may all be arranged in a straight line.

[279] In one example, FIG. 22 shows the plurality of detergent pumps 400 aligned along the width direction Y according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The detergent pump 400 may be disposed such that the outlet port 440 faces the second storage 300. The inlet port 430 of the detergent pump 400 may be disposed to face a side opposite to the second storage 300.

[280] Accordingly, a bent or curved portion of the detergent pipe 420 connecting the detergent pump 400 with the second storage 300 may be minimized, and a pumping loss of the first detergent pumped via the detergent pump 400 may be minimized.

[281] In addition, as described above, the first detergent pump 401, which is located farther from the second storage 300 than the second detergent pump 402, is disposed on the pump control module 510, so that structural interference caused by the second detergent pump 402 between the outlet port 440 of the first detergent pump 401 and the second storage 300 may be minimized.

[282] In addition, the detergent pump 400 includes a first coupling portion 455 coupled to a component located inside the cover space 140 to be fixed to the cover space 140, and a detailed description of the first coupling portion 455 will be made later.

[283] In one example, FIG. 23 shows an arrangement relationship between the detergent connection port 321 of the second storage 300 and the water supply pipe 620. The water supply 600 may include the water supply pipe 620 for water to flow, and the water supply pipe 620 may connect the water supply valve 610 with the second storage 300.

[284] The water supply 600 may include a water supply module 650 in which the plurality of water supply pipes 620 are disposed as one module, and a detailed description of the water supply module 650 will be made later.

[285] The water supply valve 610 of the water supply 600 may be disposed at the rear of the second storage 300, and therefore, the water supply pipe 620 may be disposed between the water supply valve 610 and the second storage 300. In one example, the detergent connection port 321 of the second storage 300 to which the detergent pipe 420 is connected may be disposed biased toward one side in the width direction Y in the second storage 300 so as to minimize structural interference with the water supply pipe 620.

[286] That is, the detergent connection port 321 may be located between the water connection port 322 of the second storage 300 and the detergent pump 400. Furthermore, the receiving casing 310 of the second storage 300 may include the aforementioned drawer 340 and a second chamber 314 that protrudes from a first chamber 312 and is able to accommodate the second detergent therein. The connection port 321 may be disposed on the second chamber 314.

[287] The water connection port 322 of the second storage 300 may be disposed in the first chamber 312, and the detergent connection port 321 may be disposed in the second chamber 314 protruding from the first chamber 312. Accordingly, structural interference between the water supply pipe 620 and the detergent pipe 420 may be minimized.

[288] Furthermore, the second chamber 314 may protrude rearward from the first chamber 312. That is, the second chamber 314 may be located parallel to the water supply valve 610 approximately in the width direction Y. Accordingly, the structural influence of the water supply pipe 620 extending forward from the water supply valve 610 on the detergent pipe 420 may be minimized.

[289] In one example, FIG. 24 shows the first coupling portion 455 of the detergent pump 400 to be coupled to the component inside the cover space 140. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the detergent pump 400 may include the first coupling portion 455 fixed to the cabinet 10 as a first coupling portion-passing member extends therethrough.

[290] The first coupling portion-passing member may extend through the first coupling portion 455 of the detergent pump 400, and the first coupling portion 455 may protrude outward from the detergent pump 400. The first coupling portion-passing member may extend through the first coupling portion 455 in the vertical direction.

[291] The first coupling portion-passing member may be coupling means such as a bolt. The top cover 100 may include a passing member receiving portion 540 disposed inside the cover space 140, and the first coupling portion-passing member that has passed through the first coupling portion 455 of the detergent pump 400 may extend through the passing member receiving portion 540 or may be inserted into the passing member receiving portion 540 to be fixed.

[292] The passing member receiving portion 540 may have a pillar shape protruding upward from a bottom surface of the cover space 140 to facilitate the insertion of the first coupling portion-passing member. The passing member receiving portion 540 may be located outward of the pump control module 510, for example, forward of the pump control module 510, to facilitate placement of the pump control module 510.

[293] In one example, FIG. 25 shows a second coupling portion 456 of the detergent pump 400 to be coupled to a component located inside the cover space 140. The detergent pump 400 may include the second coupling portion 456 fixed by a hook 550 disposed in the cabinet 10.

[294] The hook 550 may be located inside the cover space 140 and may protrude from an inner surface of the cover space 140. For example, the hook 550 may protrude from the bottom surface or a peripheral surface of the cover space 140.

[295] The hook 550 may include a hook for fixing the detergent pump 400 by being engaged with the second coupling portion 456 of the detergent pump 400, and the second coupling portion 456 of the detergent pump 400 may include a hook groove for the hook to be inserted and fixed.

[296] However, when necessary, the hook 550 may be disposed on the detergent pump 400 and the second coupling portion 456 may be disposed in the cover space 140.

[297] In the detergent pump 400, the first coupling portion 455 and the second coupling portion 456 may be disposed on opposite sides of each other, so that a fixing force of the detergent pump 400 may be strengthened. For example, the first coupling portion 455 may be disposed at a front side of the detergent pump 400 and the second coupling portion 456 may be disposed at a rear side of the detergent pump 400.

[298] In other words, the passing member receiving portion 540 disposed in the cover space 140 may be located forwardly of the detergent pump 400 and the pump control module 510, and the hook 550 may be located rearwardly of the detergent pump 400 and the pump control module 510.

[299] In one example, FIG. 26 shows the second storage 300 and the water supply 600 connected to each other. The water supply 600 for regulating the flow of water and the receiving casing 310 of the second storage 300 may be connected to each other via the water supply module 650.

[300] The water supply module 650 may be coupled to the water supply valve 610 and the second storage 300 and may deliver water flowing out from the water supply valve 610 to the second storage 300.

[301] The water supply module 650 may include the plurality of water supply pipes 620. That is, at least one water flow channel may be formed inside the water supply module 650. In other words, the water supply module 650 may include one or more water inlet holes 651 and one or more water outlet holes 652.

[302] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the water supply valve 610 and the second storage 300 are connected to each other using the water supply module 650 including the one or more water supply pipes 620, so that manageability of the water supply pipe 620 may be improved and durability of the water supply pipe 620 may be secured.

[303] The water inlet hole 651 of the water supply module 650 is connected to the water supply valve 610, so that water may flow into the water inlet hole 651. The water outlet hole 652 of the water supply module 650 is connected to the water connection port 322 of the second storage 300, so that water may flow out of the water outlet hole 652. The plurality of water inlet holes 651 may be connected to the different water supply valves 610, respectively, and the plurality of water outlet holes 652 may be connected to the different water connection ports 322, respectively.

[304] The water supply module 650 may have more water outlet holes 652 through which water flows out to the second storage 300 than the water inlet holes 651 through which water is introduced from the water supply valve 610. That is, the water supply module 650 may have a branching structure in which a flow channel connected to one water inlet hole 651 is branched and connected to a plurality of water outlet holes 652.

[305] The branching structure as described above may be advantageous when there are more targets to receive water than targets to supply water. For example, in one

embodiment of the present disclosure, water from the water supply 600 is supplied to the second storage 300, but within the second storage 300, there are a plurality of areas to which water is supplied. Therefore, the water supply module 650 including the branching structure is utilized to achieve efficient supply of water.

[306] In one example, FIG. 27 shows a side view of the second storage 300, and FIG. 28 shows a rear perspective view of the second storage 300.

[307] The receiving casing 310 of the second storage 300 may form an outer appearance of the second storage 300 and may include the detergent connection port 321 and the water connection port 322 described above. The detergent connection port 321 and the water connection port 322 may be disposed on a top surface of the receiving casing 310 to help self-weights of the first detergent and water create flows.

[308] The receiving casing 310 may include the first chamber 312 and the second chamber 314, the first chamber 312 may accommodate therein the drawer 340 that may be extended from the receiving casing 310, and the second chamber 314 may provide a space into which the first detergent is introduced.

[309] The water connection port 322 may be disposed on a top surface of the first chamber 312 and the detergent connection port 321 may be disposed on a top surface of the second chamber 314. That is, water supplied to the second storage 300 may be provided to the first chamber 312, and the first detergent may be provided to the second chamber 314.

[310] The drawer 340 that is retracted into the first chamber 312 may store the second detergent therein. When performing the washing course, the user may store the second detergent in the drawer 340 and retract the drawer 340 into the receiving casing 310. When the washing course is performed, the second detergent may be mixed with water provided to the first chamber 312 and discharged to the outside of the receiving casing 310.

[311] The first chamber 312 and the second chamber 314 may be in communication with each other. The first space 313 inside the first chamber 312 and the second space 315 inside the second chamber 314 may together define an inner space of the receiving casing 310. The first detergent supplied to the second chamber 314 may flow to the first chamber 312.

[312] The second chamber 314 may have a shape protruding rearward from a rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312. The second space 315 may be a space that protrudes rearward from the first space 313. A bottom surface of the second chamber 314 may be located at a vertical level higher than that of a bottom surface of the first chamber 312, and the first detergent provided to the second chamber 314 may create a flow toward the inside of the first chamber 312 because of the vertical level difference between the first chamber 312 and the second chamber 314.

[313] In one example, a detergent detector 330 may be disposed on the rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312. The detergent detector 330 may be disposed on the rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312 between the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 and the bottom surface of the second chamber 314 and detect the first detergent flowing from the second chamber 314 to the first chamber 312.

[314] A front surface of the receiving casing 310, that is, a front surface of the first chamber 312, may be opened to define the casing open surface 316, and the drawer 340 may be retracted or extended through the casing open surface 316.

[315] A portion of the casing open surface 316 may be a detergent discharge area 317 through which the first detergent, the second detergent, or water is discharged into the tub 20. The detergent discharge area 317 may be defined beneath the casing open surface 316.

[316] In the casing open surface 316, the detergent discharge area 317 may be defined under the drawer 340 accommodated in the receiving casing 310. The first detergent, the second detergent or water present in the first chamber 312 may flow along the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 by a self-weight thereof, and the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 may be spaced downwardly apart from the drawer 340.

[317] That is, in the first chamber 312, the first detergent, the second detergent or water may flow between the drawer 340 and the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 and may be discharged through the detergent discharge area 317 of the casing open surface 316 and supplied into the tub 20 because of a falling phenomenon by the self-weight thereof.

[318] In one example, as described above, the second storage 300 may include the receiving casing 310 including the first chamber 312, and the drawer 340 that accommodates the second detergent therein and is able to be extended from and retracted into the first chamber 312. The first detergent introduced through the detergent pipe 420 and water introduced through the water supply pipe 620 may be mixed with the second detergent in the first chamber 312 and discharged to the tub 20.

[319] The receiving casing 310 may further include the second chamber 314 that is connected to the detergent pipe 420 and into which the first detergent is introduced, and the second chamber 314 and the first chamber 312 may be in communication with each other, so that the first detergent may be delivered to the first chamber 312.

[320] In one example, FIG. 29 shows an exploded perspective view of the second storage 300. An inner space of the drawer 340 of the second storage 300 may be divided. For example, the drawer 340 may include a first accommodating portion 341 and a second accommodating portion 342, and the first accommodating portion 341 and the second accommodating portion 342 may be divided from each other and store different types of detergents therein.

[321] For example, the second detergent in a powder form may be stored in the first accommodating portion 341, and the second detergent in a liquid form may be stored in the second accommodating portion 342. As mentioned above, the distinction between the first detergent and the second detergent is based on the storage target, not the type or the form of the detergent.

[322] A front surface 345 of the drawer 340 may be exposed to the outside of the receiving casing 310 and may serve as a handle that the user may grip. A rear surface of the drawer 340 may be open and may serve as a passage through which the second detergent flows from the inside of the drawer 340 to the inside of the receiving casing 310.

[323] The second storage 300 may include a water diffusor 370, and the water diffusor 370 may be disposed at an upper portion of the receiving casing 310 and have a function of diffusing water flowing into the second storage 300 throughout the receiving casing 310.

[324] The water diffuser 370 may be disposed upwardly of the drawer 340, and may include a first diffuser 380 disposed in the first chamber 312 and a second diffuser 390 disposed in the second chamber 314. The second diffuser 390 may have a shape extending from the first diffuser 380.

[325] Water introduced through the water connection port 322 disposed on the top surface of the first chamber 312 may diffuse via the water diffuser 370 before falling into the receiving casing 310 to increase a water supply area.

[326] Additionally, water supplied to the first chamber 312 may flow and be supplied into the second chamber 314 by the first diffuser 380 and the second diffuser 390. Water supplied to the second chamber 314 may be utilized to wash the first detergent present in the chamber.

[327] In one example, FIG. 30 shows a fluid flow process inside the second storage 300. The receiving casing 310 may include the first chamber 312 and the second chamber 314, the first space 313 may be defined inside the first chamber 312, and the second space 315 may be defined inside the second chamber 314.

[328] The detergent connection port 321 may be disposed on the top surface of the second chamber 314, and the first detergent may flow into the second space 315 through the detergent connection port 321. The first detergent flowing into the second space 315 may flow down the rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312 and flow along the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 toward the detergent discharge area 317.

[329] The water connection port 322 may be disposed on the top surface of the first chamber 312, and water introduced through the water connection port 322 may be provided to the first space 313 and flow along the bottom surface of thefirst chamber 312. Water flowing along the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 may be mixed with the first detergent and discharged via the detergent discharge area 317.

[330] The second detergent may be stored inside the drawer 340 accommodated inside the first chamber 312, and the second detergent may flow out from the drawer 340 via the open rear surface of the drawer 340 together with water supplied to the first space 313.

[331] Water and the second detergent flowing out from the drawer 340 may flow along the bottom surface of the first chamber 312 and be discharged via the detergent discharge area 317.

[332] In one example, FIG. 31 shows a flow path of the first detergent inside the second storage 300. The first detergent introduced through the detergent connection port 321 of the second chamber 314 may be supplied to the second space 315 of the second chamber 314, and may flow along the bottom surface of the second chamber 314 and be delivered to the first chamber 312.

[333] As described above, the second chamber 314 may have the shape that protrudes rearward from the rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312, and the bottom surface of the second chamber 314 may be located at the vertical level higher than that of the bottom surface of the first chamber 312.

[334] Therefore, the first detergent of the second chamber 314 may flow down the rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312 between the bottom surface of the second chamber 314 and the bottom surface of the first chamber 312. In one example, the above-described detergent detector 330 may be disposed in the flow path of thefirst detergent.

[335] The detergent detector 330 may be disposed on the rear wall 318 of the first chamber 312 between the bottom surface of the second chamber 314 and the bottom surface of the first chamber 312. As the detergent detector 330 is disposed on the rear wall 318, which is approximately perpendicular to the ground, a phenomenon of the first detergent remaining and sticking may be suppressed.

[336] The detergent detector 330 may include a pair of detecting electrodes 331, and a dividing rib 332 may be disposed between the pair of detecting electrodes 331. Even when the detergent sticks to a surface of the detergent detector 330, because of the dividing rib 332, a situation in which the sticking detergent is connected to both the pair of detection electrodes 331 may be suppressed and a detection error may be reduced.

[337] Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in connection with the specific embodiment, it would be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be variously modified and changed without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure provided by the claims below.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a cabinet including a top cover having a laundry inlet defined therein; a tub disposed inside the cabinet and configured to store water therein, wherein the tub has a tub inlet defined therein facing the laundry inlet; a first storage at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and configured to store first detergent therein; a second storage disposed inside the cabinet and configured to store second detergent therein, wherein the second storage is in communication with the tub; a detergent pump disposed inside the cabinet, wherein the detergent pump is connected to the first storage and configured to allow the first detergent to flow; a detergent pipe connecting the detergent pump with the second storage and configured to guide the first detergent to the second storage; and a water supply pipe configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source to the second storage, wherein the first detergent and the second detergent are mixed with water inside the second storage and discharged to the tub inlet.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first storage, the second storage, and the detergent pump are located rearwardly of the tub.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top cover includes a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet and a rear portion located at the rear of the door, wherein the first storage is disposed on the rear portion, and the second storage and the detergent pump are disposed in a cover space defined inside the rear portion.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second storage and the detergent pump are disposed inside the top cover and aligned along a width direction of the cabinet.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detergent pump is disposed on one side of the second storage along the width direction, and a PCB module including a PCB is disposed on the other side thereof.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein a water level detector configured to measure a water level of the tub is disposed on the other side of the second storage, wherein the detergent pump, the second storage, the water level detector, and the PCB module are aligned along the width direction.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein a pump control module connected to the detergent pump is disposed on one side of the second storage.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein the detergent pump and the pump control module are arranged in a vertical direction on the one side of the second storage.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detergent pump includes a plurality of detergent pumps arranged along the width direction, wherein at least one of the plurality of detergent pumps and the pump control module are arranged in the vertical direction.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detergent pump includes a plurality of detergent pumps aligned along the width direction on one side of the second storage.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second storage is disposed in a cover space defined inside the top cover, wherein a pump control module connected to the detergent pump is disposed on one side of the second storage along a width direction of the cabinet, and a PCB module including a PCB is disposed on the other side thereof.

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detergent pump is disposed on the one side of the second storage and is seated on the pump control module.

13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent pump and the second storage are aligned along a width direction of the cabinet, wherein the detergent pump includes an inlet port for the first detergent to be introduced therethrough and an outlet port for the first detergent to flow out therethrough, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are arranged in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the cabinet.

14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent pump includes a first coupling portion receiving afirst coupling portion-passing member extending therethrough and fixed to the cabinet, and a second coupling portion fixed by a hook disposed in the cabinet.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent pump includes an inlet port coupled to an outflow pipe and configured to allow the first detergent to be introduced therethrough, wherein the inlet port has a hollow defined therein, and includes a suction hole defined in a circumferential surface thereof and in communication with the hollow, and an extension groove extending in the circumferential surface thereof from the suction hole toward one end thereof, wherein the first detergent of the outflow pipe is supplied to the detergent pump along the extension groove, the suction hole, and the hollow.

16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first storage includes a storage body configured to store the first detergent therein, wherein the storage body includes a detergent valve opened when the storage body is coupled to the cabinet and closed when the storage body is removed from the cabinet.

17. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the storage body is mounted on or removed from the cabinet along a width direction of the cabinet.

18. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first storage further includes a mounting portion disposed in the top cover, wherein the storage body is attachable to and detachable from the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion includes a fastening pipe inserted into the storage body, wherein the detergent pump receives the first detergent via an outflow pipe connected to the fastening pipe inside the cabinet.

19. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the detergent pump is located under the first storage and connected to the storage body via the outflow pipe, and is located in a width direction of the cabinet relative to the second storage and connected to the second storage via the detergent pipe.

20. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second storage is located in front of a water supply valve connected to the water supply source and connected to the water supply pipe.

21. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a water supply module including the water supply pipe and coupled to the water supply valve and the second storage, wherein the water supply module has more water outlet holes for water to flow out to the second storage than water inlet holes for water to be introduced from the water supply valve.

22. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second storage includes: a receiving casing including a first chamber; and a drawer configured to accommodate the second detergent therein and extendable from the first chamber, wherein the first detergent introduced via the detergent pipe and water introduced via the water supply pipe are mixed with the second detergent in the first chamber and discharged into the tub.

23. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the receiving casing further includes a second chamber connected to the detergent pipe and receiving the first detergent introduced thereinto, and the second chamber and the first chamber are in communication with each other, so that the first detergent is delivered to the first chamber.