KR101016293B1 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a washing tank containing washing water, a filter unit disposed outside the washing tank, a circulating oil path guiding the washing water withdrawn from the washing tank to pass through the filter unit in the forward direction and re-introduced into the washing tank, and the washing water withdrawn from the washing tank The laundry treatment apparatus includes a drain passage for guiding the filter unit to be drained in the reverse direction. The washing unit automatically cleans the filter unit using the drained washing water, thereby improving hygiene and user convenience of the product.

Description

Laundry processing machine {Washing machine}

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment machine, and more particularly, a filter unit is provided on a circulation passage to filter foreign matters, and the filtered foreign matters are discharged to the outside with the washing water being drained to automatically wash the filter unit. It is about.

In general, laundry treatment equipment uses chemical reaction between water and detergent and physical action such as friction between water and laundry to separate contaminants on clothes, bedding, etc. (hereinafter referred to as 'laundry'). Various kinds of laundry treatments, such as a washing machine, a drying device for dehydrating and drying wet laundry, a spray of heated steam to prevent allergies due to laundry, and a refresher for washing laundry simply by applying physical and chemical effects to the laundry Collectively, the device.

On the other hand, a laundry machine, which is a kind of laundry treatment machine, is classified into an agitator type, a drum type, and a pulsator type according to its structure and washing method. Such a washing apparatus washes laundry while sequentially performing washing, rinsing, and dehydrating strokes, and it is possible to perform only a predetermined stroke among the above-described strokes according to the user's choice, Washing is done by the washing method.

However, the conventional washing machine is provided with a lint filter for filtering foreign substances such as lint (lint) that is separated from the laundry, there was an inconvenience that the user must clean the lint filter directly. In addition, when the lint filter is not cleaned in time, there is also a hygiene problem such as being left contaminated and causing mold and smelling. Therefore, the consumer has to constantly observe whether the lint filter is contaminated and clean, and not only very troublesome, but also has to be cleaned directly from the consumer's point of view when the consumer feels uncomfortable.

The present invention filters the washing water flowing along the circulation passage by the filter unit disposed outside the washing tank, wherein foreign matters such as lint collected in the filter unit are discharged to the outside by the washing water drained through the filter unit in a reverse direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment apparatus in which the filter unit is automatically cleaned without the user cleaning the filter unit directly.

The laundry treatment machine of the present invention includes a washing tank containing washing water, a filter unit disposed outside the washing tank, and a circulating flow path for guiding the washing water discharged from the washing tank to pass through the filter unit in the forward direction to be re-introduced into the washing tank. And, and the drainage flow path for guiding the washing water discharged from the washing tank to pass through the filter in the reverse direction.

At this time, the circulation flow path, the first circulation flow path for washing water flowing out from the washing tank; And a second circulation passage guided by the first circulation passage to guide the wash water passing through the filter unit in the forward direction to the washing tank, wherein the drain passage is branched from the first circulation passage. It may include a bypass flow path connected to the second circulation flow path.

On the other hand, the washing tank may include an outer tank containing the washing water, and an inner tank rotatably disposed in the outer tank, wherein the first circulation passage flows the washing water from the outer tank, and the second circulation The flow path guides the wash water passing through the filter part in the forward direction to be reflowed into the inner tank.

The laundry treatment machine of the present invention includes a filter unit for filtering the washing water flowing along the circulation passage, thereby effectively filtering foreign substances such as lint contained in the washing water.

In addition, the laundry treatment machine of the present invention can automatically clean the filter unit by using the wash water to be drained, thereby improving the convenience of use.

In addition, the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention has the advantage that the filter unit can be kept clean at all times because the filter unit is cleaned at any time even if the user does not have any interest for cleaning the filter unit.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the washing water flowing along the circulation passage in the laundry processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is filtered by the filter unit 32. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the filter part 32 is cleaned by the washing water flowing along the drainage flow path in the laundry treatment apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the laundry treatment machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the main body 11 to form an appearance, the door 12 for opening and closing the gun entrance hole formed in the main body 11, the main body (11) a washing tank 20 provided inside to wash the laundry contained therein, a control unit 13 for controlling the overall operation of the laundry processing apparatus 100, and a main body 11 to be installed in and out of the detergent; It includes a detergent box 14 is accommodated, and a water supply passage 17 is connected to the external water source and the wash water flows. The wash water introduced through the water supply passage 17 is supplied into the washing tank 20 through the detergent box 14.

The washing tub 20 may include an outer tub 22 suspended by the support member 15 in the main body 11 and an inner tub 21 rotatably disposed in the outer tub 22 and in which laundry is accommodated. At this time, the lower side of the inner tank 21 may be provided with a pulsator 16 for forming a rotary water flow, the lower side of the outer tank 21 is provided with a motor 42 and the clutch 44, the inner tank 21 And / or selectively rotate the pulsator 15. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the rotation axis of the motor 42 is shown in an indirect drive method of transmitting power using a belt or the like without directly rotating the inner tank 21 and / or the pulsator 15, The scope is not limited to this, and it is stated that the motor 42 may also be applied to the direct drive system for directly driving the inner tub 21 and / or the pulsator 16.

 On the other hand, the outer side of the outer tank 22, the filter unit 32 may be provided to filter out foreign substances such as lint contained in the wash water withdrawn from the outer tank 22 and circulated along the circulation passage, the circulation passage The heating unit 50 may be provided to heat the washing water circulating along (hereinafter, 'washing water circulating along the circulation passage' is referred to as 'circulating water'). In this case, the heating unit 50 may include a heating unit housing 51 in which the circulation water is collected and a heater 51 disposed in the heating unit housing 51 to heat the circulation water. The heater 51 may be variously implemented as a sheath heater or the like by those skilled in the art (hereinafter, referred to as a person skilled in the art).

On the other hand, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is a circulation pump 34 for pumping the washing water circulates along the circulation passage, and the injection unit 38 is connected to the circulation passage for spraying the washing water to the inner tank 21 It may further include. The injection unit 38 is a means for injecting the circulating water into the inner tank 21, and includes a plurality of nozzle holes (not shown) of relatively small size, and variously sprays the washing water into the inner tank 21 by showering. It may be implemented in the form. Since the spraying unit 28 directly sprays the washing water onto the laundry (m) accommodated in the inner tank 21, the washing unit 28 can effectively wet the laundry evenly, and fills the washing water to a predetermined level in the inner tank 21 so that the laundry is locked. Compared to the method of reducing the amount of wash water required to wet the laundry has the advantage. In particular, the spraying unit 38 may be set such that the spraying direction of the washing water is directed toward the sidewall of the inner tub 21 so as to effectively wet the laundry adhering to the sidewall of the inner tub 21. It is preferable that the inner tank 21 rotates with the injection of 38.

Referring to FIG. 2, water is supplied to the washing tub 20, and a washing stroke or a rinsing stroke is performed. At this time, the laundry treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the washing stroke or rinsing stroke, after the washing water in the washing tank 20 to the outside of the washing tank 20, circulating it again to wash the tank A circulation flow path for injecting into 20 is formed. More specifically, the washing tub 20 may include an outer tub 22 in which washing water is contained, and an inner tub 21 rotatably disposed in the outer tub 22, wherein the circulation passage 22 includes the outer tub 22. It may be defined as a flow path for circulating the wash water discharged from the) to be injected again into the inner tank (21).

At this time, the circulating water circulating along the circulation passage is guided to pass through the filter unit 32 in the forward direction, and filtered by the filter unit 32. The filter unit 32 may be implemented as a mesh body in which a plurality of fine holes are formed to filter out foreign substances such as lint contained in the circulating water. As the circulating water passes through the filter unit 32, foreign substances such as lint are collected at the tip of the filter unit 32, and the filtered circulating water is guided through the second circulation channel 64 again by the heating unit 50. After it is heated, it is injected into the inner tank 21 through the injection unit 38. Here, the circulation passage includes a first circulation passage 62 and a second circulation passage 66.

Laundry treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a circulating water is heated by the heating unit 50 provided on the circulation passage, the heated circulating water is injected into the inner tank 21, the outer tank ( It is possible to spray a small amount of washing water to a high temperature in a short time and directly spray to the laundry contained in the inner tank 21, compared to the conventional configuration provided with a heater at the bottom of 22), thereby washing the laundry hygienically can do. In addition, by spraying the washing water directly to the laundry through the injection unit 38, there is an advantage that can reduce the amount of washing water required to wet the laundry. On the other hand, the circulation passage 34 may be provided with a circulation pump 34 for supplying a circulation force to the circulation water flowing along the circulation passage, in this embodiment the circulation pump 34 is the second circulation passage 64 Although not limited thereto, the first circulation passage 62 may, of course, be implemented in various ways such that the circulation water is purified along the circulation passage.

On the other hand, the laundry treatment machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a drain flow passage for guiding the water discharged from the washing tank 20 to pass through the filter unit 32 in the reverse direction.

Here, the drainage flow path is a flow path for guiding the washing water discharged from the washing tub 20 to pass through the filter part 32 in the reverse direction, and may be implemented in various ways. In this embodiment, the first circulation flow path 64 And a bypass flow path 66 branched from and connected to the second circulation flow path 64.

Here, after the wash water discharged from the outer tub 22 is guided to the second circulation flow path 64 through the bypass flow path 66, the drain flow path passes through the filter part 32 in the reverse direction, and the drain pump flow path ( The flow path is guided to 68 and drained by the drain pump 36. The process of cleaning the filter unit 32 while draining the washing water will be described later in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The laundry treatment machine of the present invention may further include a flow path selection unit 70 for selecting the washing water discharged from the washing tank 20 to circulate along the circulation passage or to drain along the drain passage. In the present embodiment, the flow path selector 70 is provided at a point where the bypass flow path 66 is branched from the first circulation flow path 62 to be implemented as a control valve 70 for switching the flow path.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the flow path is switched to the bypass flow path 66 by the control valve 70, the washing water discharged from the outer tub 22 is directed to the second circulation flow path 64 through the bypass flow path 66. It flows and passes through the filter part 32 in the reverse direction, and is drained through the drain pump flow path 68. At this time, it is preferable that the drainage pump 36 is operated to sufficiently secure the pressure of the washing water passing through the filter part 32 and to smoothly drain the water.

On the other hand, when the wash water is drained as described above, when the wash water is filtered while flowing along the circulation passage, foreign matter such as lint collected at the tip of the filter unit 32 passes through the filter unit 32 in the reverse direction. Since the drainage is made with the washing water flowing along the flow path, the cleaning of the filter part 32 is automatically performed, and thus, the cleaning of the filter part 32 is performed every time the drainage proceeds. Can be maintained at all times, there is no user to separate the filter unit 32 to clean, there is an effect that the convenience of use is improved.

On the other hand, at the point where the bypass flow path 66 and the second circulation flow path 64 meet, a separate control valve 63 for preventing washing water from flowing back to the bypass flow path 64 when flowing along the circulation flow path is provided. It may be further provided.

4 is a schematic view illustrating a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the washing water flowing along the circulation passage of the laundry treatment machine 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention is filtered by the filter unit 32. 5 and 4 in the laundry treatment apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram simplifying the configuration of the main part to explain the structure in which the filter unit 32 is cleaned by the washing water flowing along the drainage flow path.

In the laundry treatment apparatus 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, two water outlets are formed in the outer tub 22, and each water outlet hole communicates with the first circulation passage 62 and the bypass passage 66, respectively. There is a difference from the embodiment of the present invention described above. Due to the difference as described above, the flow path selection unit 70 and the first control valve 71 and the bypass flow path 66 for adjusting the washing water discharged from the outer tank 22 flows to the first circulation flow path 62 side. And a second control valve 72 that adjusts to flow to the side. Other configurations are the same as / similar to one embodiment of the present invention described above, so the description will be omitted below.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the washing water discharged from the outer tub 22 forms a circulation passage, the first control valve 71 is opened and the second control valve 72 is closed. As shown in FIG. 5, when the wash water discharged from the outer tub 22 forms a drainage flow path, the first control valve 71 is closed and the second control valve 72 is preferably opened.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the washing water flowing along the circulation passage of the laundry treatment device 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention is filtered by the filter unit 32. FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the filter part 32 is cleaned by the washing water flowing along the drainage channel in the laundry treatment apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 6.

Laundry processing device 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention, the circulation passage passing through the filter unit 32 in the forward direction, the drain passage passing in the reverse direction is implemented separately from each other without the overlapping portion It is distinguished from one embodiment and another embodiment of the present invention, and the other configurations are the same / similar.

That is, in one embodiment and another embodiment of the present invention described above, a portion of the first circulation passage 62 and a portion of the drain pump flow passage 68 are shared, but in this embodiment, the portions are not shared. That is, in this embodiment, the drainage flow path is a bypass flow path 66 for guiding the wash water discharged from the outer tank 21 to pass through the filter unit 32 in the reverse direction, and the wash water passing through the filter unit 32 in the reverse direction. It includes a drain pump flow path 68 is formed separately without a portion shared with the first circulation passage 62 to drain the.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. For example, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, two water outlets are formed in the outer tub 22. However, the laundry treatment apparatus is not limited thereto. The water outlet may be formed, and may be implemented to include a circulation passage including the first circulation passage 62 and a drain passage including a drain pump passage 68 separately configured without overlapping the purified passage. .

That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims that are described later rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the present invention. Should be interpreted as

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which laundry water flowing along a circulation passage is filtered by a filter unit in the laundry treatment apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the filter part is cleaned by the washing water flowing along the drainage channel in the laundry treatment machine shown in FIG. 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a simplified configuration of the main part to explain the structure in which the washing water flowing along the circulation passage of the laundry treatment machine according to another embodiment of the present invention is filtered by the filter unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the filter part is cleaned by the washing water flowing along the drainage channel in the laundry treatment machine shown in FIG. 4.

6 is a schematic view illustrating a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which washing water flowing along a circulation passage of a laundry treatment device according to another embodiment of the present invention is filtered by a filter part.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a simplified structure of a main part to explain a structure in which the filter part is cleaned by the washing water flowing along the drainage channel in the laundry treatment apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6.

<Explanation of Signs of Major Parts of Drawings>

100, 200, 300: laundry treatment machine 20: washing tank

21: Bird 22: Bird

32: filter part 34: circulation pump

36: drain pump 38: injection unit

50: heating section 62: first circulation passage

64: second circulation passage 66: bypass passage

68: drain pump flow path 70: flow path selection portion

Claims (8)

A washing tank containing washing water; It includes a filter unit disposed outside the washing tank, A circulation passage guiding the washing water discharged from the washing tank to pass through the filter part in a forward direction and to be re-introduced into the washing tank; And And a drainage passage for guiding the washing water discharged from the washing tank to drain through the filter unit in a reverse direction. The method of claim 1, The circulation passage, A first circulation passage through which the washing water discharged from the washing tank is introduced; And And a second circulation passage that guides the washing water guided by the first circulation passage to flow back into the washing tank. The drain flow path, And a bypass flow passage branched from the first circulation flow passage and connected to the second circulation flow passage. The method of claim 2, The washing tank, A bath containing washing water; And An inner tub rotatably disposed in the outer tub, The first circulating flow flows into the wash water discharged from the outer tank, And the second circulation passage guides the washing water passing through the filter part in the forward direction to be re-introduced into the inner tank. The method of claim 2, And a flow path selection unit configured to control the washing water introduced into the first circulation path to be branched into the bypass flow path. The method of claim 1, The laundry treatment machine further comprises a circulation pump for pumping the wash water guided along the circulation passage. The method of claim 1, The laundry treatment apparatus further comprises a drain pump for draining the wash water guided along the drain passage. The method of claim 1, The laundry treatment apparatus further comprises a heating unit for heating the wash water guided along the circulation passage. The method of claim 1, The laundry treatment machine further comprises an injection unit for spraying the washing water guided along the circulation passage into the washing tank.

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