KR101306036B1 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An invention for a washing machine is disclosed. The disclosed invention relates to: a cabinet; A tub accommodated in the cabinet; A drum accommodated in this tub; A water supply unit for supplying washing water to the tub; A first pressure reducing unit provided in the water supply unit and configured to lower the pressure in the water supply unit; A second pressure reducing part formed adjacent to the first pressure reducing part to lower a pressure inside the water supply part; And a liquid detergent supply unit connected to the water supply unit to supply a liquid detergent.

According to the present invention, by automatically supplying the liquid detergent at the time of washing in consideration of the water supply amount, it is possible to supply the desired amount of liquid detergent in a timely manner, as well as the user does not have to input the liquid detergent at the time of washing.

Washing machine, liquid detergent, water supply

Description

Washing machine {WASHING MACHINE}

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine having a detergent supply function.

In general, a washing machine is a product that removes various contaminants attached to clothes, bedding, etc. by using the emulsification of detergent, friction action of water flow caused by rotation of the pulsator, and impact action of the pulsator on laundry. Appearing automatic washing machine automatically performs a series of processes leading to washing, rinsing and dehydration without user intervention in the middle.

Such a washing machine may be classified into a top-loading washing machine in which the washing tank is standing and a drum washing machine in which the washing tank is laid, depending on the type of the washing tank in which the laundry is accommodated. Compared to washing machines, the overall height is not only reduced, but washing capacity can be increased, and problems such as porosity are rarely generated. Therefore, the demand is increasing.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a drum type conventional washing machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional washing machine includes a tub 2 elastically supported by a spring 6 and a damper 7 in a main body 1, and a drum rotatably installed in the tub 2 to accommodate laundry. (3) and a drive unit 4 axially connected to the drum 3. The drive unit 4 is composed of a rotor (not shown) and a stator (not shown), and a drive shaft is connected to the rotor to transmit the driving force of the rotor to the drum 3.

The upper part of the drum (3), the detergent container (8) which is connected to the water supply line (10) is provided, and the detergent container standing so that the user can put the detergent in the interior of the detergent container (8) to be detached to the outside (9) ) Is provided. In addition, the front surface of the main body 1 is provided with the door 5 rotatably from side to side at a position facing the opening of the drum 3.

In the conventional washing machine configured as described above, before the washing is performed, powder detergent, bleach, and fabric softener are put into the detergent drawer 9, and the type of laundry or washing time is controlled through a control panel (not shown). If you press the start button after setting, a series of processes from washing to rinsing and dehydration are automatically performed.

On the other hand, liquid detergents that are well diluted in washing water and excellent in emulsification have recently been widely spread. When the liquid detergent is to be put into the washing machine, it is impossible to inject the detergent by opening the door 5 while the washing water is supplied due to the characteristics of the drum washing machine. It must be introduced through the detergent container (8).

According to the washing machine according to the prior art as described above, a problem occurs that the laundry is damaged when the liquid detergent is directly added to the laundry, the detergent input amount due to the structural characteristics for the powder detergent when the liquid detergent is injected through the detergent container The problem is that it becomes inaccurate. In other words, the detergent container is a structure in which the powder detergent is diluted in an appropriate amount by the water to be supplied to the washing tank, but in the case of the liquid detergent, the detergent can be directly added to the washing tank as long as it is not diluted in the washing water due to its fluidity. The detergent container is for the powder detergent, and the dilution amount of the powder detergent and the liquid detergent by washing water is inevitably different. This causes a problem in that it is difficult to control the amount of the detergent detergent. Therefore, there is a need to improve this.

The present invention has been made to improve the problems of the prior art as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine having an improved structure to supply a desired amount of liquid detergent in a timely manner.

Washing machine according to the present invention comprises: a cabinet; A tub accommodated in the cabinet; A drum accommodated in the tub; A water supply unit for supplying washing water to the tub; A first pressure reducing unit provided in the water supply unit and lowering a pressure inside the water supply unit; A second pressure reducing part formed adjacent to the first pressure reducing part to lower a pressure inside the water supply part; And a liquid detergent supply unit connected to the water supply unit to supply a liquid detergent.

Here, the water supply unit, the water supply pipe connected to the tub; And it is preferable to have a first valve for opening and closing the water supply pipe.

In addition, the first pressure reducing unit is provided in the water supply pipe, and preferably has a diameter smaller than that of the water supply pipe.

In addition, the water supply pipe, the first water supply pipe disposed between the first valve and the first pressure reducing portion; And a second water supply pipe disposed between the first pressure reducing unit and the tub and connected to the liquid detergent supply unit.

In addition, the second pressure reducing unit is preferably made by increasing the diameter of the side of the second water supply pipe connected to the liquid detergent supply unit.

In addition, the liquid detergent supply unit, the receiving tank for receiving the liquid detergent; A supply pipe connecting the accommodation tank and the water supply part; And a second valve for opening and closing the supply pipe.

The liquid detergent supply unit may further include an injection port for injecting liquid detergent from the outside of the cabinet into the accommodation tank.

In addition, it is preferable that an atmospheric pressure maintaining hole is formed in the accommodation tank to communicate the accommodation tank with the outside.

In addition, the drum accommodated in the tub; And a weight sensing unit for sensing a weight value applied to the drum.

In addition, it is preferable to further provide a water level detection unit for detecting the water level value of the wash water supplied to the tub.

In addition, it is preferable to further include a control unit for controlling the operation of the water supply unit and the liquid detergent supply unit according to a control signal transmitted from at least one of the water level detection unit and the weight detection unit.

In addition, the control unit, it is preferable to control the operation of the liquid detergent supply unit to stop the supply of the liquid detergent when the water level value is more than the set value.

Moreover, it is preferable that a detergent container is provided between the said water supply part and the said tub.

According to the washing machine of the present invention, by washing and supplying the washing liquid and the liquid detergent automatically in consideration of the water supply amount of the washing water at the time of washing, the user does not have to inject the liquid detergent at the time of washing, and the desired amount of liquid detergent In addition to being able to supply timely, liquid detergent does not come in direct contact with the laundry, there is less risk of laundry damage.

In addition, the present invention, in the liquid detergent supply unit to supply the liquid detergent, instead of having a separate pump or compressor for supplying the liquid detergent, the liquid detergent is supplied by using the pressure drop by the first pressure reducing unit By adopting a structure to make a separate pump or compressor, it is easy to manufacture, the volume and weight of the entire apparatus is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a part of the washing machine shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a configuration showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention It is also.

2 to 4, a washing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 110, a tub 120, a water supply unit 130, a first pressure reduction unit 140, and Liquid detergent supply unit 150 is included.

The cabinet 110 forms an appearance of the washing machine 100 according to the present embodiment. Tub 120 and other devices are housed in this cabinet 110.

The tub 120 is horizontally installed in the cabinet 110. The tub 120 may be formed of a metal material, a plastic material, or a synthetic resin, and wash water is introduced into the tub 120. In the tub 120, a drum 125 for storing laundry is rotatably received.

The water supply unit 130 is connected to an external water source and is connected to the tub 120 to supply washing water to the tub 120. The water supply unit 130 may be directly connected to the tub 120, it may be connected to the tub 120 and may be connected to the detergent container 160 for supplying powder detergent, fabric softener, etc. to the tub 120. In this embodiment, the water supply unit 130 is illustrated as being connected to the tub 120 through the detergent container 160, but is not limited thereto.

The water supply unit 130 as described above includes a water supply pipe 131 and the first valve 135.

The water supply pipe 131 is connected to the tub 120, more specifically, the detergent container 160 connected to the tub 120, and the first valve 135 is provided to open and close the water supply pipe 131. The water supply pipe 131 includes a first water supply pipe 132 and a second water supply pipe 133.

The first water supply pipe 132 is disposed between the first valve 135 and the first pressure reducing unit 140 to be described later. The first water supply pipe 132 is connected to an external water source, and when the first valve 135 is opened, the first water supply pipe 132 is a passage for moving to the first pressure reducing unit 140.

The second water supply pipe 133 is disposed between the tub 110, that is, the detergent container 160 connected to the tub 120 and the first pressure reducing unit 140, and is connected to the liquid detergent supply unit 150. The second water supply pipe 133 is a passage through which the washing water passing through the first pressure reducing unit 140 moves to the detergent container 160 and the tub 120, and the liquid detergent supplied from the liquid detergent supply unit 150 is provided. It becomes a passage for moving to the detergent container 160 and the tub 120.

The first pressure reducing unit 140 is provided between the water supply unit 130, more specifically, the first water supply pipe 132 and the second water supply pipe 133. The first pressure reducing unit 140 increases the speed of the washing water moved to the second water supply pipe 133 by narrowing the flow path of the washing water moving from the first water supply pipe 132 to the second water supply pipe 133. As a result, a pressure drop occurs in the second water supply pipe 133.

As an example of such a first pressure reducing unit 140, an orifice member is applied in this embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

The second decompression unit 145 is provided in the water supply unit 130 and is formed adjacent to the first decompression unit 140. In detail, the second pressure reducing part 145 has a shape extending from one side of the second water supply pipe 133 adjacent to the first pressure reducing part 140, and thus the second water supply pipe adjacent to the first pressure reducing part 140 ( 133) is formed to expand the diameter of the portion.

The second pressure reducing unit 145 is a diameter of a portion of the second water supply pipe 133 connected to the liquid detergent supply unit 150 which will be described later, that is, a width of the flow path of the connection portion with the liquid detergent supply unit 150. By expanding than other portions of the water supply pipe 133, the difference between the flow path width of the first pressure reducing unit 140 and the flow path width of the second water supply pipe 133 is increased. Accordingly, the pressure drop is more generated in the second water supply unit 133.

The liquid detergent supply unit 150 is accommodated in the cabinet 110 and is connected to the water supply unit 130, more specifically, the second water supply pipe 133. The liquid detergent supply unit 150 is provided to supply the liquid detergent to the wash water passing through the first pressure reducing unit 140 and the second pressure reducing unit 145, the receiving tank 152, the supply pipe 154 and The second valve 156 is included.

The receiving tank 152 is accommodated in the cabinet 110 and accommodates the liquid detergent. Supply tank 154 is connected to the receiving tank 152, the supply pipe 154 is connected to the water supply unit 130, more specifically, the second water supply pipe 133, the receiving tank 152 and the water supply unit 130 ). Here, the second water supply pipe 133 is connected to the second water supply pipe 133, and is connected to a portion where the flow path width is extended by the second pressure reducing part 145. In addition, the supply pipe 154 is provided with a second valve 156. The second valve 156 is provided to open and close the supply pipe 154.

The liquid detergent supply unit 150 as described above may further include an injection unit 158 so that the user can inject liquid detergent into the receiving tank 152. The injection unit 158 communicates with the receiving tank 152 and is provided to be opened and closed.

The injection part 158 protrudes from the receiving tank 152 and is exposed to the outside of the cabinet 110 so that a user can inject liquid detergent from the outside of the cabinet 110 into the receiving tank 152. The cabinet 110 is provided to be exposed to the top.

As the injection unit 158 exposed to the outside of the cabinet 110 may damage the aesthetics of the washing machine 100 as described above, the cabinet 110 may be provided with a cover 112. The washing machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes a lid 112 that can be opened and closed, and when the liquid detergent is injected, the lid 112 is opened to expose the injection portion 158, and the injection portion 158 is normally used. You can keep your aesthetic by not exposing it.

In addition, the receiving tank 152 may be formed with an atmospheric pressure holding hole 151 for communicating the receiving tank 152 with the outside. The atmospheric pressure holding hole 151 serves to maintain the pressure inside the receiving tank 152 equal to the atmospheric pressure. The atmospheric pressure maintaining hole 151 may be formed to penetrate the injection part 158.

Hereinafter, the operation relationship of the liquid detergent supply unit 150 will be described.

When the first valve 135 is opened and the wash water flows into the first water supply pipe 132, the washing water passes through the first pressure reducing unit 140, and its flow velocity is increased than that of the first water supply pipe 132, thereby increasing the second water. The water supply pipe 133 is moved. According to Bernoulli's Theorem, the pressure in the place where the flow of the fluid is faster becomes smaller than the pressure in the place where the flow of the fluid is slow, so that a pressure drop occurs in the second water supply pipe 133. At this time, the pressure of the second water supply pipe 133 is lower than the atmospheric pressure.

As the pressure drop occurs in the second water supply pipe 133 as described above, a pressure difference occurs between the second water supply pipe 133 and the storage tank 152 maintaining the atmospheric pressure. At this time, when the second valve 156 is open, the liquid detergent contained in the receiving tank 152 by the pressure difference between the receiving tank 152 and the second water supply pipe 133 is supplied to the second water supply pipe through the supply pipe 154 ( 133). In this case, since the supply pipe 154 is connected to the second water supply pipe 133, the supply pipe 154 is connected to a portion where the pressure drop is caused by the second pressure reducing part 145. It can be made smoothly.

The liquid detergent introduced into the second water supply pipe 133 is mixed with the wash water and supplied into the tub 110 through the detergent container 160.

Here, when the pressure difference between the second water supply pipe 133 and the receiving tank 152 is kept constant while the wash water flows into the water supply unit 130, the amount of the liquid detergent flowing into the second water supply pipe 133 is the amount of wash water. Will be proportional to the water supply.

Meanwhile, the washing machine 100 of the present embodiment may further include a weight sensing unit 170, a water level sensing unit 180, and a controller 190.

The weight sensing unit 170 senses the weight value applied to the drum 125, that is, the weight value of the laundry. The weight sensing unit 170 is configured to include a weight sensor for sensing the weight value of the drum (125). And, the water level detection unit 180 is configured to include a water level detection sensor to detect the water level value of the '?' Turbidity supplied to the tub 120.

The controller 190 controls the operation of the entire washing machine 100 according to the present embodiment, and is connected to the weight sensing unit 170 and the water level sensing unit 180. The control unit 190 controls the operation of the water supply unit 130 and the liquid detergent supply unit 150 in accordance with a control signal transmitted from at least one of the weight detection unit 170 and the water level detection unit 180.

That is, the controller 190 controls the operation of the water supply unit 130 and the liquid detergent supply unit 150 according to the control signal transmitted from the weight detection unit 170, and the control transmitted from the water level detection unit 180 Control whether the water supply unit 130 and the liquid detergent supply unit 150 is stopped according to the signal. A detailed description thereof will be described later.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the operation and control method of the washing machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, when a user injects laundry into the drum 125 (S10) and operates the corresponding button of the control panel 195 related to the operation of the liquid detergent supply unit 150 (S20), the weight sensing unit 170 washes the laundry. The control unit 190 transmits a control signal by detecting a weight value of the control unit 190 (S30).

The control unit 190 receiving the control signal from the weight sensing unit 170 calculates the water supply amount and the liquid detergent supply amount (S40).

Here, the water supply amount is calculated as the water level value of the wash water corresponding to the weight value of the laundry. In addition, the liquid detergent supply amount is calculated as the water level of the wash water corresponding to the weight value of the laundry, the amount of the liquid detergent is introduced into the second water supply pipe 133 in consideration of the proportion of the water supply of the wash water in consideration of the water supply amount It may be calculated as a level value proportional to the level value for.

Hereinafter, the water level value for the water supply amount of the wash water will be defined as the first water level value and the water level value for the liquid detergent supply amount as the second water level value.

When the water supply amount and the liquid detergent supply amount are calculated as described above, the controller 150 controls to open the first valve 135 and the second valve 156 (S50 and S60).

The first valve 135 and the second valve 156 may be open at the same time, either of which may be opened first, but when the first valve 135 is opened first, the air remaining in the supply pipe 154 Due to the fact that the liquid detergent may not be smoothly introduced, it is preferable to open the second valve 156 first.

As the first valve 135 and the second valve 156 is opened as described above, the washing water is supplied to the tub 120, and the liquid detergent supply unit is caused by the pressure drop of the second water supply pipe 133 generated at this time. Liquid detergent is supplied from the 150 to the second water supply pipe 133. The liquid detergent supplied to the second water supply pipe 133 is mixed with the wash water and supplied into the tub 120.

As such, while the washing water is supplied into the tub 120, the water level detecting unit 180 detects the level of the washing water inside the tub 120 (S70).

When the level value of the wash water reaches the second level value, the water level detection unit 180 detects this and transmits a control signal to the control unit 190 (S80). The control unit 190 receives the control signal, and recognizes that the liquid detergent is supplied by the set supply amount, and controls to close the second valve 156, accordingly, the liquid detergent supply unit 150 controls the supply of the liquid detergent. It stops (S90).

Even after the supply of the liquid detergent is stopped, the washing water supply to the inside of the tub 120 is continuously performed until the level value of the washing water reaches the first level value, during which the level sensing unit 180 is connected to the tub 120. ) Continuously detects the level value of the wash water inside (S100).

When the level value of the wash water reaches the first level value, the water level detection unit 180 detects this and transmits a control signal to the control unit 190 (S110). The control unit 190 receives the control signal, and recognizes that the washing water is supplied by the set amount of supply, and controls to close the first valve 135, accordingly, the water supply unit 130 stops supplying the washing water ( S120).

When the supply of the wash water and the liquid detergent is completed as described above, the controller 190 controls the washing machine 100 to start the washing operation (S130).

The washing machine 100 of the present embodiment as described above, by supplying the washing water and the liquid detergent automatically in consideration of the water supply amount of the washing water at the time of washing, there is no hassle for the user to put the liquid detergent at the time of washing. In addition to being able to supply the desired amount of liquid detergent in a timely manner, the liquid detergent does not come in direct contact with the laundry, there is an advantage of less laundry damage.

In addition, the washing machine 100 of the present embodiment, when the liquid detergent supply unit 150 supplies the liquid detergent, instead of having a separate pump or compressor for supplying the liquid detergent, the first pressure reducing unit 140 By taking a structure to supply the liquid detergent using the pressure drop by), compared to having a separate pump or compressor, it is easy to manufacture, the volume and weight of the entire device is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced have.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. I will understand. In addition, the drum-type washing machine has been described as an example, but this is merely exemplary, and the present invention may be applied to a washing machine other than the drum-type washing machine. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a drum type conventional washing machine.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic view showing a part of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2.

4 is a block diagram showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: washing machine 110: cabinet

120: Tub 130: water supply

131: water supply pipe 132: first water supply pipe

133: second water supply pipe 135: first valve

140: first pressure reducing unit 145: second pressure reducing unit

150: liquid detergent supply unit 152: receiving tank

154: supply pipe 156: second valve

160: detergent container 170: weight detection unit

180: water level detection unit 190: control unit

Claims (12)

cabinet; A tub accommodated in the cabinet; A drum accommodated in the tub; A water supply unit for supplying washing water to the tub; A first pressure reducing unit provided in the water supply unit and lowering a pressure inside the water supply unit; A second pressure reducing part formed adjacent to the first pressure reducing part to lower a pressure inside the water supply part; A liquid detergent supply unit connected to the water supply unit and interlocked with a pressure drop inside the water supply unit to supply a liquid detergent to the water supply unit; A weight sensing unit for sensing a weight value of laundry applied to the drum; A water level sensing unit sensing a water level of the wash water supplied to the tub; And And a control unit controlling an operation of the water supply unit and the liquid detergent supply unit according to a control signal transmitted from at least one of the water level detection unit and the weight detection unit. The controller determines whether the liquid detergent is supplied by the set supply amount based on the water level value, and recognizes that the liquid detergent is supplied by the set supply amount when the liquid level value is greater than or equal to the set value. Washing machine, characterized in that for controlling the operation of the liquid detergent supply unit to stop. According to claim 1, The water supply unit, A water supply pipe connected to the tub; And Washing machine comprising a first valve for opening and closing the water supply pipe. 3. The method of claim 2, The first pressure reducing unit is provided in the water supply pipe, characterized in that having a diameter smaller than the water supply pipe. According to claim 2, The water supply pipe, A first water supply pipe disposed between the first valve and the first pressure reducing part; And And a second water supply pipe disposed between the first pressure reducing unit and the tub and connected to the liquid detergent supply unit. 5. The method of claim 4, The second pressure reducing unit, characterized in that for increasing the diameter of the side of the second water supply pipe connected to the liquid detergent supply unit. According to claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent supply unit, A receiving tank containing a liquid detergent; A supply pipe connecting the accommodation tank and the water supply part; And And a second valve for opening and closing the supply pipe. The method according to claim 6, The liquid detergent supply unit further includes an injection port for injecting liquid detergent from the outside of the cabinet into the accommodation tank. The method according to claim 6, Washing machine, characterized in that the receiving tank is formed with an atmospheric pressure maintaining hole for communicating the receiving tank with the outside. delete delete delete delete

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