US20180363217A1

US20180363217A1 - Wall-mounted washing machine, detergent container of wall-mounted washing machine, and front panel of wall-mounted washing machine

Info

Publication number: US20180363217A1
Application number: US15/892,225
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeong Hyeon GIM
Original assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corp
Current assignee: WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-14
Filing date: 2018-02-08
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Also published as: KR20180136100A; CN109082835A

Abstract

Provided are a wall-mounted washing machine, a detergent container of a wall-mounted washing machine, and a front panel of a wall-mounted washing machine. The wall-mounted washing machine includes a rear panel; a tub for holding wash water; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a front panel having an opening and installed on a front side of the tub; a cover on the front panel and covering the front panel; a detergent container drawn into the front panel from a front side of the cover or drawn out to the front side of the cover from the front panel and including a detergent input space accommodating detergent and a conditioner input space accommodating conditioner; and a door rotatably coupled to the cover to open or close a laundry inlet of the cover; wherein the detergent container includes a case forming the detergent input space and the conditioner input space; a cap coupled to an upper side of the case and including an inlet of the detergent input space and an inlet of the conditioner input space; and a front part coupled to a front surface of the case and providing a detergent container handle allowing a user to grip.

Description

RELATED CASE

This patent application claims benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0074636 filed Jun. 14, 2017, with inventor Jeong Hyeon Gim, and whose specification is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a wall-mounted washing machine, a detergent container of a wall-mounted washing machine, and a front panel of a wall-mounted washing machine.

BACKGROUND

A washing machine is an apparatus for separating contaminants from washed fabric (laundry) using wash water and detergent, wherein the contaminants may be separated from the washed fabric by the chemical action of the detergent dissolved in the wash water and the mechanical action (agitation) of the wash water and an inner basket. Such washing machines may be categorized into various types, including, a top loading type washing machine, a front loading type washing machine, and a combined type washing machine combined with the top loading type and the front loading type, depending on the method of laundry loading.
In recent years, wall mounted washing machines have been introduced, which may be installed in narrow spaces such as bathrooms and toilets. In general, the wall mounted washing machines employ the front loading type for miniaturization.
For example, the wall mounted washing machine may include a cabinet that forms an exterior of the device, a tub provided in the cabinet and operable to be filled with wash water, a drum rotatably installed in the tub and accommodating the laundry, a drive unit providing power to the drum for agitation, a water supply unit for supplying the wash water to the tub, and a drain unit for discharging the wash water from the tub to the outside of the cabinet.
In the related art of wall-mounted washing machines, a detergent container accommodating detergent and a conditioner container accommodating conditioner are separately provided. Thus, for a washing cycle, a user draws out the detergent container from the washing machine, supplies detergent, draws the detergent container into the washing machine, draws out the conditioner container, supplies conditioner, and subsequently draws the conditioner container into the washing machine, thereby potentially causing user inconvenience with so many required steps.
In addition, in the related art, the detergent container is formed in a rotationally opening/closing manner, making it difficult for the user to draw in and out the detergent container.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the above disadvantages, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wall-mounted washing machine in which both detergent and conditioner are simultaneously supplied to a single detergent container so that the detergent and the conditioner may be supplied by simply drawing in or out the detergent container only one time. Embodiments of the present invention also pertain to a detergent container of the wall-mounted washing machine, and a front panel of the wall-mounted washing machine.
Also, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wall-mounted washing machine in which a detergent container may be easily drawn in and out, a detergent container of the wall-mounted washing machine, and a front panel of the wall-mounted washing machine.
More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is drawn to A wall-mounted washing machine, comprising: a rear panel operable to be wall-mounted; a tub disposed on a front surface of the rear panel and operable to contain wash water; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub; a front panel having an opening and disposed on a front side of the tub; a cover covering the front panel; a detergent container selectively drawn into the front panel from a front side of the cover and drawn out to the front side of the cover from the front panel, wherein the detergent container comprises a detergent input space for accommodating detergent and a conditioner input space for accommodating conditioner; a door rotatably coupled to the cover to selectively open and close a laundry inlet of the cover; and a cabinet surrounding the tub, wherein: the detergent container comprises: a case forming the detergent input space and the conditioner input space; a cap coupled to an upper side of the case and comprising: an inlet of the detergent input space; and an inlet of the conditioner input space; and a front part coupled to a front surface of the case and providing a handle. Embodiments include the above and wherein the case comprises: a first part forming the detergent input space; and a second part forming the conditioner input space, wherein the first part and the second part are partitioned by a partition and arranged in a horizontal direction.
Embodiments include the above and further comprising: a water supply valve assembly disposed in the front panel and operable to receive wash water from a water supply, wherein the front panel is provided with a detergent container receiving unit into which the detergent container is drawn, and wherein further: a first fitting operable to provide wash water from the water supply valve assembly to the detergent input space and a second fitting operable to provide wash water from the water supply valve assembly to the conditioner input space are connected to an upper side of the detergent container receiving unit. Embodiments include the above and wherein: detergent introduced to the detergent input space is dissolved in the wash water supplied through the first fitting and discharged to an inner side of the tub through a first outlet formed on a bottom surface of the case, and conditioner introduced to the conditioner input space is dissolved in the wash water supplied through the second fitting and discharged to the inner side of the tub through a second outlet formed on the bottom surface of the case.
Another embodiment of the present invention is drawn to a detergent container of a wall-mounted washing machine to be drawn in or out from a detergent container receiving unit in a front panel of the wall-mounted washing machine, the detergent container comprising: a case comprising a first part in which a detergent input space is formed, a second part in which a conditioner input space is formed, and a partition partitioning the first part and the second part; a cap coupled to an upper side of the case to cover portions of the first part and the second part and comprising an inlet of the detergent input space and an inlet of the conditioner input space; and a front part coupled to a front surface of the case and comprising a handle. Embodiments include the above and further comprising: a first outlet disposed on a lower surface of the first part to discharge a detergent aqueous solution in which a detergent of the detergent input space is dissolved, to a tub; a second outlet disposed on a lower surface of the second part to discharge a conditioner aqueous solution in which a conditioner of the conditioner input space is dissolved, to the tub; a first overflow part disposed on a rear surface of the first part to discharge a detergent aqueous solution, which has not been discharged through the first outlet, to the tub; and a second overflow part disposed on a rear surface of the second part to discharge a conditioner aqueous solution, which has not been discharged through the second outlet, to the tub.
Another embodiment of the present invention is drawn to a front panel comprising a detergent container receiving unit for receiving the detergent container according to the above description, wherein the front panel is part of an assembly and wherein the assembly comprises: a cover coupled to a front surface of the front panel; a detergent container gasket tightly attached to a front part of the detergent container and coupled to a front surface of the detergent container receiving unit; and a guide protrusion formed on an inner side surface of the detergent container receiving unit and inserted into a guide recess formed on a side surface of the detergent container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a wall mounted washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the door of FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the washing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the washing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in which a detergent container is coupled to a cover and a front panel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the detergent container of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the detergent container of FIG. 6, taken along line B-B′;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the detergent container of FIG. 6, taken along line C-C′;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a lower surface of the detergent container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a side surface of the detergent container of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the cover and the front panel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a rear surface of the front panel of FIG. 6;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a detergent container gasket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a rear surface of the detergent container gasket of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a configuration in which the door, the cover, and the front panel of FIG. 4 are coupled, taken along line A-A′; and

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the circle “D” of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in the description of the present disclosure, the detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted if they would unnecessarily obscure the features of the subject matter of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a wall mounted washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the door of FIG. 1 is opened, FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the washing machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the washing machine of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a wall-mounted washing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet 100 having a front surface and a rear surface opened and forming an outer appearance, a door 200 disposed on one side of the cabinet 100 and for opening or closing the opened front surface of the cabinet 100, a cover 300 connected to the door 200 for opening and closing the door 200, a front panel 400 disposed on the rear surface of the cover 300, a detergent container 500 housed in one side of the front panel 400 and accommodating detergent and conditioner, a drum 600 in which laundry is stored, a tub 700 which surrounds the drum 600 and is filled with wash water, and a rear panel 800 mounted on the wall. Here, the rear surface means a surface close to the wall, and the front surface means a surface opposite to the rear surface.
Specifically, the cabinet 100 may be provided in an empty form. Also, the cabinet 100 may include a power button 102 for controlling a power supply, a cover connection unit 104 connected to the cover 300, and a rear panel connection unit 106 connected to the rear panel 800.
The power button 102 may be provided on one side of the cabinet 100 to control whether the washing machine 10 is turned on or off. The power button 102 may be provided on one side of the front surface of the cabinet 100 to be easily controlled by the user. Here, in this embodiment, the power button 102 is provided on the lower surface of the front surface of the cabinet 100. However, the position of the power button 102 is not limited thereto, and may be provided on the left or right of the front surface of the cabinet 100, or on any suitable location for example.
In this embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the side of the washing machine 10 in which the detergent container 500 is provided will be referred to as an “upper side” and the side of the washing machine 10 in which the power button 102 is provided will be referred to as a “lower side”. Also, a side of the washing machine 10 in which a door opening button 210 is provided will be referred to as a “right side” and a side of the washing machine 10 in which a door hinge 360 is provided will be referred to as a “left side”.
The cabinet 100 may include a cover connection unit 104 connected to the cover 300. The cover connection unit 104 may correspond to an edge of the opened front surface of the cabinet 100 and may have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the cover 300 so that the cover 300 is not detached from the cabinet 100. Specifically, the cover 300 may be inserted into the cabinet 100 from the rear surface to the front surface side. In this case, since the diameter of the cover connection unit 104 is smaller than the diameter of the cover 300, the cover 300 may be fitted into the cover connection unit 104, so that the cover 300 may not separate from the cabinet 100.
The cabinet 100 may include a rear panel connecting unit 106 connected to the rear panel 800. The rear panel connecting unit 106 may correspond to the opened rear edge of the cabinet 100 and may be have the same shape of the rear panel 800. The cabinet 100 may be bolted to the rear panel 800 and for this purpose, a plurality of bolt fastening holes may be formed in the rear panel connecting portion 106
Meanwhile, the door 200 may be provided on the front surface of the cabinet 100. The door 200 is provided for loading and unloading laundry, and may include a door inner frame 230 and a door outer frame 240. Specifically, the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240 may be bolted to have a predetermined space therebetween, and each may have a circular shape with a diameter corresponding to the cover connection unit 104. In this case, the door inner frame 230 may be in contact with the cover connection unit 104, and the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240 may completely shield, e.g., protect, the cover 300 connected to the cabinet 100.
The door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240 may include a door hinge connection unit 232 for connecting with the cover 300. The door hinge connecting unit 232 is disposed at one side of the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240 and may provide a space for accommodating a door hinge 360 of the cover 300 (to be described later).
A display 202 may be provided in a space located between the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240. The display 202 is capable of outputting predetermined information to the user, and is provided with a front surface exposed to the outside of the door outer frame 240. That is, the door outer frame 240 may include a hole (not shown) or may be formed of a transparent material so that the display 202 may be exposed and viewable. In this case, the display 202 may be a touch panel capable of inputting or outputting information, and the user may confirm the information such as the operating state through the display 202, also invoke an operation of the wall-mounted washing machine 10 via touch operations. For example, the user may select a cycles such as laundry washing and rinsing by performing a touch operation with respect to the display 202, and confirm the remaining washing time or the like through visualization of the display 202.
The display 202 which is exposed to the exterior of the door outer frame 240 and the door outer frame 240 may be protected through a protective glass 204. The protective glass 204 is transparently and disposed on the front surface of the door outer frame 240 so that the user may visualize the display 202. In this case, the protective glass 204 may have the same diameter as the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240.
A hole (not shown) may be provided on one side of the protective glass 204, and the door opening button 210 may be exposed to the outside through the hole (not shown). The door opening button 210 may be provided in the door outer frame 240 for opening or closing the interior of the cabinet 100 using an electronic opening and closing system and may be exposed to the outside through a hole of the protective glass 204.
In addition, the door 200 may include a door opening unit 250 and a door hanging unit 260. The door opening unit 250 and the door hanging unit 260 may protrude rearward of the door inner frame 230 and may be in contact with and engaged with one side of the cover 300. Specifically, the door opening unit 250 serves as an opening/closing assistant and may have an elastic force. For example, the door opening unit 250 may include a spring and may act as a force support for opening the door 200 through the elastic force of the spring. For example, when the door 200 is closed, the door opening unit 250 may be compressed and inserted into a groove (not shown) provided on one side of the cover 300. When the user operates the door opening button 210 to open the door 200, the door opening unit 250 may release from one side of the cover 300, and may be in contact with the bottom surface of the groove (not shown) provided on one side of the cover 300 in a relaxed state. That is, a space is provided between the door 200 and the cover 300 by the relaxed length of the door opening unit 250, thereby preventing the door 200 from being automatically closed.
The door opening unit 250 may be a pusher stem assembly that may be supported by the spring and located within a guide structure formed in the door inner frame 230 to repeatedly perform projecting by a linear movement to a predetermined stroke range.
The door hanging unit 260 may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the door opening unit 250 and may have the shape of a hook partially protruding from the door inner frame 230. The protruding portion of the door hanging unit 260 may be coupled to a door lock unit 330 of the cover 300 (to be described later), and thus the door 200 may be closed securely.
In summary, the door 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be opened through a door opening button 210. When the user operates the door opening button 210, the door opening unit 250 and the door hanging unit 260 may be released from the cover 300 so that the door 200 may open the cover 300. In this case, the door opening unit 250 having an elastic force may be relaxed and disposed on one side of the cover 300, and thus a predetermined gap is provided between the door 200 and the cover 300. Therefore the door 200 may be prevented from closing.
In addition, the user may close the door 200 by applying pressure to the door 200 toward the cover 300 side. To this end, the user may press one side of the outermost protective glass 204 of the door 200 thereby compressing the door opening unit 250 and pushed in the groove (not shown) of the cover 300 and the protruding portion of the door hanging unit 260 may be coupled to the door hanging unit 330 of the cover 300. That is, the door 200 may be opened and closed without using a separate handle.
A center side of the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240 may be opened and the door glass 280 may be provided at the opened center side. The door glass 280 is provided for user visualization of the laundry inside the washing machine 10 from the outside of the washing machine 10 and may be fitted to the door inner frame 230 and the door outer frame 240. In this case, the door glass 280 may be formed to protrude rearward, and the protruded side of the door glass 280 may be fitted to the opened side of the cover 300.
Meanwhile, the door 200 may be rotatably connected to the cover 300. The cover 300 is provided to enclose the front panel 400 and may include a laundry inlet 302 for loading laundry, a detergent container loading port 304 for loading a detergent container 500, and a power processing unit 306 for controlling the button 102.
The user may load laundry through the laundry inlet 302. The laundry inlet 302 may have a predetermined diameter. In this case, the diameter of the laundry inlet 302 may correspond to the size of the protruding portion of the door glass 280. Thus, when the door 200 is closed, the door glass 280 may block the laundry inlet 302, and when the user opens the door 200, the door glass 280 is released from the laundry inlet 302 so that the laundry loading through the laundry inlet 302 may be possible.
A detergent container loading port 304, which may load the detergent container 500, may be disposed on the upper side of the laundry inlet 302. In this case, the detergent container loading port 304 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the detergent container 500.
The cover 300 may have a laundry inlet 302 at its center and may have a circular shape as a whole. Further, the cover 300 may have a shape in which one side protrudes downward. In this case, the power processing unit 306 may be disposed in a protruding portion downward. The power processing unit 306 may be a PCB substrate connected to the power button 102 to control whether the power is turned on or off according to the operation of the power button 102 protruding from the outside of the case 100.
The cover 300 may include a door hanging unit 330 at a position corresponding to the other door hanging unit 260. The door hanging unit 330 is coupled to the hook-shaped door hanging unit 260 and may be a groove corresponding to the shape of the door hanging unit 260. Thus, as the door hanging unit 260 is coupled to the door hanging unit 330, so that the door 200 may close the laundry inlet 302.
Also, the cover 300 may include a door hinge 360 disposed at a location corresponding to the door hinge connection unit 232. The door hinge 360 may be provided to be opened while one side of the door 200 and one side of the cover 300 may be connected to each other, and the one side of the door hinge 360 may be received in the door hinge connection unit 232. Specifically, the door hinge 360 may have a shape of a long curved panel in a vertical direction on one side of the laundry inlet 302, and may partially protrude forward such that the door 200 may be rotated and connected to the door hinge connection unit 232. That is, the door 200 may be rotatable along the protruding portion in front of the door hinge 360.
A front panel 400 may be provided on the rear surface of the cover 300. The front panel 400 may be coupled to the tub 700 and may include a shield unit 410 shielding a space between the drum 600 and the tub 700, a detergent container receiving unit 420 receiving the detergent container 500, a detergent container gasket 430 provided to seal at a portion coupled with the detergent container 500, a fitting 440 for supplying water into the detergent container 500, a door gasket 450 provided to seal at a portion in contacted with the door 200, and a water supply valve assembly 480 for receiving wash water from an external water supplying source.
The shield unit 410 may shield a space formed between the drum 600 and the tub 700 and may have a shape corresponding to the cover 300. That is, it may have the same diameter as the cover 300 and have an opening corresponding to the laundry inlet 302 provided on the center side thereof. In this connection, the opening of the shield unit 410 may be smaller than the diameter of the drum 600, so that the space between the drum 600 and the tub 700 may be shielded.
The detergent container receiving unit 420 may be disposed at one side of the shield unit 410 to receive the detergent container 500. The detergent container receiving unit 420 may be provided in a shape corresponding to the detergent container 500 and may be communicated with the detergent container loading port 304 of the cover 300. That is, the detergent container 500 may be received in the detergent container receiving unit 420 via the detergent container loading port 304 of the cover 300.
The detergent container receiving unit 420 may include a detergent container gasket 430 that is pressurized by the detergent container 500. The detergent container gasket 430 may be disposed around the end of the detergent container receiving unit 420 to seal the detergent container 500 and may be provided as a rubber material. That is, the detergents, the conditioners, and the wash water supplied to the detergent container 500 are prevented from leaking to the outside through the detergent container gasket 430.
At least one fitting 440 may be provided on the top of the detergent container receiving unit 420. The fitting 440, which is connected to a water supply valve assembly 480 connected to an external water supply source, may supply the wash water into the detergent container 500. Thus, the wash water supplied to the drum 600 and the tub 700 includes the dissolved detergents or conditioners as a result of the wash water being supplied into the drum 600 and the tub 700 through the detergent container 500.
The opening of the shield unit 410 may include a door gasket 450 which is pressed against a door glass 280 of the door 200. The door gasket 450 may be disposed at the opening end of the shield unit 410 (for example, at the annular end of the opening) to hermetically fix the door glass 280, and it may be composed of a rubber material or the like. Thus, when the door 200 is closed, the door glass 280 penetrating the laundry inlet 302 of the cover 300 presses against the door gasket 450, and thereby the wash water inside the drum 600 and the tub 700 is prevented from leaking outside the door 200.
The fitting 440 may be supplied with wash water through a water supply valve assembly 480. The water supply valve assembly 480 may be connected to an external water supply source and may selectively supply the wash water to the detergent container 550 through the fitting 440. The water supply valve assembly 480 may be a three-way valve and two of the supply flow paths extending from the water supply valve assembly 480 may be connected to the fitting 440 connected to the detergent container 500 and one of them may supply the wash water to the drum 600 directly through the door gasket 450.
The detergent container 500 may accommodate detergent and conditioner and may include a detergent container handle 502, a detergent input space 504 in which detergents are loaded, and a conditioner input space 506 in which a conditioner is loaded.
The detergent container handle 502 may protrude forward and may be exposed to the outside of the cover 300. The user thus may grasp the detergent container handle 502 after opening the door 200, allowing the detergent container 500 to be unloaded or inserted from the detergent container receiving unit 420. In this embodiment, although the detergent container handle 502 is extended in the vertical direction and provided at the center of the front surface of the detergent container 500, the detergent container handle 502 is not limited to this orientation. For example, the detergent container receiving unit 420 may be extended in the horizontal direction and provided on the front surface of the detergent container 500.
The detergent container 500 may be partitioned based on the center of the interior and include a detergent input space 504 and a conditioner input space 506 for storing detergents and conditioners, respectively. Here, the fitting 440 may be disposed to correspond to each of the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506. In detail, the fitting 440 may include a first fitting 440 a providing wash water from the water supply valve assembly 480 to the detergent input space 504 and a second fitting 440 b providing wash water from the water supply valve assembly 480 to the conditioner input space 506. The first fitting 440 a and the second fitting 440 b may be disposed such that wash water dropped from the first fitting 440 a and the second fitting 440 b are dropped to a central portion of the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506. Accordingly, the detergent and the conditioner of the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506 may selectively receive wash water. Specifically, the user may draw the detergent container 500 from the detergent container receiving unit 420 after opening the door 200 and may fill detergent and conditioner into the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506, respectively. The detergent container 500 filled with the detergent and the conditioner may be inserted again into the detergent container receiving unit 420, and depending on the washing process, the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506 may be supplied with the wash water. Accordingly, the wash water including mixed detergent or conditioner may be selectively supplied to the drum 600 and the tub 700.
Meanwhile, the front panel 400 may be connected to the drum 600. The drum 600 for receiving laundry may include a drum inlet 610 on the front surface and a spider 680 on the rear surface. In this case, a plurality of holes for fluid communication with the tub 700 may be formed around the drum 600.
A drum inlet portion 610 may be provided to correspond to the opened portion of the shield unit 410. In this connection, the drum inlet portion 610 may have a diameter smaller than the entire diameter of the drum 600, and the drum inlet portion 610 may be fitted into the opened portion of the shield unit 410, so that front panel 400 and the drum 600 may be connected to each other. Thus, laundry may be loaded into the drum 600 via the laundry inlet 302 of the cover 300 and the opened portion of the front panel 400.
The drum 600 may be rotated through a spider 680 device. The spider 680 may rotate in response to a driving force of a driving motor 910 to be described later. The spider 680 may be provided separately from the drum 600 and coupled to the rear surface of the drum 600. In this case, a groove corresponding to the shape of the spider 680 may be formed on the rear surface of the drum 600 so that the spider 680 may be seated.
The spider 680 may include a plurality of arms extending in different directions with a constant gap at the center. For example, the spider 680 may include an arm extending in three directions by a length corresponding to the radius of the drum 600, and each arm may be disposed at a 120-degree gap. Further, the center of the spider 680 may be fixed to a second pulley 914 (to be described later) through a drum rotation axis 916 (to be described later), and thus the drum 600 coupled to the spider 680 and the spider 680 may be rotated. A specific method of rotating the drum 600 will be described later.
A tub 700 in which the wash water is filled may be provided outside the drum 600. The tub 700 may have a shape corresponding to the drum 600 and may be formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the drum 600 by a predetermined length. Accordingly, the tub 700 may be arranged apart from the drum 600 by a predetermined gap. In addition, the wash water supplied into the tub 700 may flow into the drum 600 through a plurality of holes formed around the drum 600. Similarly, the inner wash water of the drum 600 may flow into the tub 700 through the plurality of holes formed around the drum 600. In this regard, the drum 600 and the tub 700 may be provided in a cylindrical shape, but are not limited thereto.
Further, the tub 700 may include a heater 702 to heat the wash water. Specifically, a groove may be formed on the inner side of the tub 700 to receive the heater 702, and the heater 702 may be provided on the inner side of the tub 700 in a detachable manner. Thus, the heater 702 may heat the wash water filled in the tub 700.
Meanwhile, the tub 700 may be integrally provided with a rear panel 800. The rear panel 800 may be mounted on the wall and may include an anchor connection unit 802 to which an anchor for connecting to the wall is connected, a cabinet fixing unit 804 for fixing the cabinet 100, and a sensor 806 for detecting the water level.
Specifically, the tub 700 and the rear panel 800 may be integrally injection molded, and the tub 700 may protrude from the front of the rear panel 800. The rear surface of the rear panel 800 may be mounted on the wall via a separate anchor. The anchor may be coupled to the wall (or other vertical surface) through an anchor connection unit 802 and may be provided on the rear surface of the rear panel 800 for stable engagement. That is, the plurality of anchors may mount the rear panel 800 on the wall. In this case, since the tub 700 and the rear panel 800 are integrally provided, a separate damper or an elastic member for supporting the tub 700 is not required. Consequently, the number of parts may be reduced, and the size of the washing machine 10 may be reduced.
The cabinet 100 may be coupled to the front surface of the rear panel 800 where the tub 700 is provided to enclose the tub 700. In this case, a cabinet fixing unit 804 may have a stepped shape along the periphery of the rear panel 800, and the cabinet 100 may be fixed to the cabinet fixing unit 804. For this purpose, a fastening member such as a bolt may be used.
Also, the rear panel 800 may include a control unit 810 for controlling the overall functions of the wall mounted washing machine 10 and a drain unit 820 for discharging the wash water filled in the tub 700.
The control unit 810 may be disposed on the front surface of the rear panel 800 to control various components of the wall mounted washing machine 10 depending on a user's operation to perform laundry washing. In this embodiment, while the control unit 810 is shown on the right side of the respect to tub 700, the position of the control unit 810 is not limited thereto.
A power supply line 904 may be connected to the external power source to supply power to the electric equipment, the control unit 810, the driving motor 910, and the like described above. The power supply line 904 may extend through the rear panel 800 to the front of the rear panel 800 and may extend outwardly from the rear of the rear panel 800. In this case, the power supply line 904 may be fixed to the rear surface of the rear panel 800 through a separate fixing means. As the power supply line 904 is provided extending outwardly from the rear surface of the rear panel 800, the appearance of the washing machine 10 is improved.
The drain unit 820 may be disposed under the rear panel 800. The drain unit 820 may discharge the wash water inside the tub 700 to the outside and may be provided on the lower surface of the front surface of the rear panel 800. In this case, the drain unit 820 may include a drain pump for pressurizing the wash water and may be connected to the drain hose 902 to discharge the wash water. Specifically, the drain hose 902 is connected to the drain unit 820 and extends outward along the rear surface of the rear panel 800, so that the wash water may flow under the pressure of the drain unit 820. Thus, when the drain unit 820 is operated after the washing cycle is completed, the wash water can be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 through the drain hose 902 due to the pressure change of the drain unit 820.
The rear panel 800 may include a driving motor 910 for transmitting a driving force to the rear panel 800, a first pulley 912 and a second pulley 914 connected to the driving motor 910, a drum rotational shaft 916 connected to the second pulley 914 to rotate the drum 600, and a belt 918 that connects the first pulley 912 and the second pulley 914.
Specifically, the driving motor 910 may be provided on the front surface of the rear panel 800. The driving motor 910 may be controlled by the control unit 810 and may be provided on one side of the control unit 810 and the drain unit 820.
Also, the driving motor 910 may be connected to the first pulley 912. In this case, the shaft (not shown) of the driving motor 910 may be provided through the rear panel 800 and may be connected with a shaft (not shown) of the driving motor 910 the first pulley 912 at the rear surface of the rear panel 800.
The first pulley 912 may be connected to the second pulley 914 via a belt 918. The second pulley 914 may be provided to surround the drum rotation shaft 916 connected to the spider 680 and the drum rotation axis 916 may penetrate the rear panel 800 while being connected to the spider 680. That is, the second pulley 914 and the drum rotation shaft 916 may be connected to each other at the rear surface of the rear panel 800.
In summary, when the wash water is filled in the tub 700 through the fitting 440, the control unit 810 may operate the driving motor 910. Subsequently, the first pulley 912 connected to the driving motor 910 may be rotated, and the second pulley 914 may be then rotated by the rotation of the first pulley 912. Thus, the drum rotation shaft 916 connected to the second pulley 914 may also rotate so that the drum 600 may be rotated inside the cabinet 100 and the tub 700. Consequently, the laundry inside the drum 600 may be washed.
On the other hand, the rear panel 800 may further include an exhaust line 920. The exhaust line 920 may be connected to the drain unit 820 and may exhaust air inside the tub 700 and the drain unit 820. Specifically, the exhaust line 920 may be connected to the drain hose 902 and pass through the rear panel 800, through which it may extend to the rear surface of the rear panel 800 and exhaust to the outside.
The wall-mounted washing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be used as follows.
First, the user may open the door 200, and may load the laundry inside the drum 600 and unload the detergent container 500 from the front panel 400. In this case, the detergent container 500 is divided in the center, so that a space for loading detergent and conditioner, respectively, may be provided.
After inserting the detergent container 500 loaded with detergent and conditioner back into the front panel 400, the user may close the door 200 and control the laundry operation via the power button 102 and the display 202. When the washing operation is started, the wash water provided from an external water supplying source through the water supply valve assembly 480 may be supplied to the detergent container 500 through the fitting 440, and the wash water may be supplied into the drum 600 and tub 700 after passing the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506. That is, the wash water filled in the drum 600 and the tub 700 may optionally include detergent and conditioner.
When the tub 700 is fully filed with the wash water, the control unit 810 may drive the driving motor 910. In this case, the driving motor 910 may be connected to the first pulley 912 and the second pulley 914, and the second pulley 914 may be connected to the drum 600 through the drum rotation shaft 916. Thus, the drum 600 may be rotated through the driving motor 910. Consequently, the laundry loaded in the drum 600 may be easily washed by the rotation of the drum 600.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in which a detergent container is coupled to a cover and a front panel of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the detergent container of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent container of FIG. 7, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the detergent container of FIG. 6, taken along line B-B′, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the detergent container of FIG. 6, taken along line C-C′, FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a lower surface of the detergent container of FIG. 6, and FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a side surface of the detergent container of FIG. 7.
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 11, the detergent container 500 may be drawn into or out from the detergent container loading port 304 disposed on the cover 300 and the detergent container receiving unit 420 disposed on the front panel 400.
The detergent container 500 may include a front part 510 having a detergent container handle 502, a case 530 forming the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506, and a cap 550 including an inlet 503 of the detergent input space 504 and an inlet 505 of the conditioner input space 506.
The front part 510 may provide the detergent container handle 502 on which a user may grip. The front part 510 may be drawn into the detergent container loading port 304 of the cover 300 to form a portion of a front surface of the cover 300. Accordingly, the front part 510 may be formed to correspond to a shape of the front surface of the cover 300. For example, when a bent part is formed on the cover 300, the front part 510 may have a bent part 5102 corresponding thereto.
Also, when the front part 510 is viewed from the front, the front part 510 may have a circular arc shape corresponding to a circumferential direction of the cover 300.
Also, a case insertion part 513 (see FIG. 17) may be provided on a rear surface of the front part 510 to allow the case 530 to be coupled thereto. Details of the case insertion part 513 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 17. The front part 510 may be coupled to the front surface of the case 530. The front part 510 may have an area larger than the front surface of the case 530.
The case 530 may include a first part 533 and a second part 535 partitioned by the partition 531 in a horizontal direction. The first part 533 may form the detergent input space 504 and the second part 535 may form the conditioner input space 506.
The cap 550 may be coupled to the top of the case 530 to cover portions of the first part 533 and the second part 535 and includes the inlet 503 of the detergent input space 504 and the inlet 505 of the conditioner input space 506. Also, the cap 550 may include an anti-scattering part 551 disposed above the partition 531 to shield portions of the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506. Here, the inlets 503 and 505 of the cap 550 may refer to openings on both bottom parts of the cap 550 with respect to the anti-scattering part 551.
The anti-scattering part 551 may include a central part 5512, a first blocking film 5514, and a second blocking film 5516. The central part 5512 of the anti-scattering part 551 is coupled to, and supported by, the partition 531 and may be coupled to an upper end portion of the partition 531. The first blocking film 5514 of the anti-scattering part 551 may extend from the central part 5512 toward the first part 533 and shield a portion of the detergent input space 504. The second shielding film 5516 of the anti-scattering part 551 may extend from the central part 5512 toward the second part 536 and shield a portion of the conditioner input space 5060.
The first blocking film 5514 and the second blocking film 5516 may extend from the central part 5512 toward the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506 and may be sloped toward an outer side. That is, the first blocking film 5514 and the second blocking film 5516 may have a reversed V-shape with the center part 5512 as a vertex. The anti-scattering part 551 may prevent wash water supplied to the detergent input space 504 and the conditioner input space 506 from being scattered by the first fitting 440 a and the second fitting 440 b, respectively. In detail, the wash water supplied from the first fitting 440 a to the detergent input space 504 may be scattered, while bumping against the bottom surface of the case 530, and, in this case, the wash water to be scattered from the detergent input space 504 may collide with an inner surface of the first blocking film 5514, thus being prevented from scattering to the outside of the detergent input space 504. In addition, the first blocking film 5514 may prevent the wash water scattered from the detergent input space 504 from overflowing to the conditioner input space 506.
Here, wash water in which the detergent is dissolved may be referred to as a detergent aqueous solution, and wash water in which the conditioner is dissolved may be referred to as a conditioner aqueous solution.
That is, the problem is thus prevented in which the detergent aqueous solution is mixed with the conditioner aqueous solution in the conditioner input space 506 and discharged to the tub 700. Like the first blocking film 5514, the second blocking film 5516 may prevent wash water supplied to the conditioner input space 506 from scattering.
However, in this embodiment, it is described that the anti-scattering part 551 is integrally formed with the cap 550, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in case where the anti-scattering part 551 is formed to be separate from (not shown) from the cap 550, the first blocking film 5514 and the second blocking film 5516 of the anti-scattering part 551 may be rotatably supported at an upper end of the partition 531.
In this case, the first blocking film 5514 may rotate at the central part 5512 to selectively shield a portion of the detergent input space 504. For example, the first blocking film 5514 may block the detergent input space 504 in a state of being perpendicular to the partition 531, or the first blocking film 5514 may descend to be parallel with the partition 531 to open the detergent input space 504. Similarly, the second blocking film 5516 may selectively shield a portion of the conditioner input space 506.
The detergent container 500 may include a first siphon section S1 discharging the detergent aqueous solution generated as the detergent is dissolved in wash water to the tub 700 and a second siphon section S2 discharging the conditioner aqueous solution generated as the conditioner is dissolved in wash water to the tub 700, by coupling of the case 530 and the cap 550. Also, the detergent container 500 may include a first overflow part 5337 discharging the detergent aqueous solution, which has not been discharged yet through the first siphon section S1, to the outside of the detergent container 500 and a second overflow part 5357 discharging the detergent aqueous solution 500, which has not been discharged yet through the second siphon section S2, to the outside of the detergent container 500. Here, the first siphon section S1 and the first overflow part 5337 may be provided in the first part 533, and the second siphon section S2 and the second overflow part 5357 may be provided in the second part 535.
First, according to the description of the present embodiment and claims, the first overflow part 5337 and the second overflow part 5357 may mean or refer to an overflow recess integrally formed in the case 530, or a first overflow hole or a second overflow hole in a case where an upper opening of the recess is blocked by the cap 550.
Also, the first siphon section S1 includes a first siphon guide recess 5331 formed in a shape depressed downwards from a bottom surface of the first part 533 of the case 530, a first outlet 5332 discharging the detergent aqueous solution from the first siphon guide recess 5331, and a first column 5333 communicating with the first outlet 5352, protruding upwards from the first siphon guide recess 5331 by a predetermined height, and having a hollow shape to allow the detergent aqueous solution introduced to the upper side to be discharged to the first outlet 5352.
The first siphon section S1 may include a first cover 553 formed in the cap 550 and covering the first column 5333. Here, an inner surface of the first cover 553 covers the first column 5333 such that a space is maintained between the inner surface of the first cover 553 and an outer circumferential surface of the first column 5333 and an upper end portion of the first column 5333. Here, a lower end portion of the first cover 553 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the first siphon guide recess 5331 by a predetermined height in the vicinity of a lower end portion of the first column 5333.
The first cover 553 may be connected to the left and rear surfaces of the cap 550 with respect to the detergent input space 504.
A plurality of first engaging ribs 5334 may protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the first column 5333 so that when the first cover 553 is fit to the first column 5333, the first engaging ribs 5334 may be tightly attached to an inner circumferential surface of the first cover 533 and the first cover 553 may be interference-fit to the first column 5333. The first engaging ribs 5334 may be space maintaining mechanisms.
Here, the first engaging ribs 5334 may be formed in such a number that they do not interfere with the siphon effect in the first siphon section S1. For example, three first engaging ribs 5334 may protrude from the first column 5333.
The first siphon section S1 may be formed on the left and rear surfaces of the detergent input space 504. The first siphon section S1 may discharge the detergent aqueous solution in the detergent input space 504 to the tub 700 through the first outlet 5352 using a pressure difference. In detail, wash water is supplied to the detergent input space 504 by the first fitting 440 a and mixed with a detergent therein to form a detergent aqueous solution. Here, the first fitting 440 a is connected to the detergent container receiving unit 420 to supply wash water and is disposed above the space between the first siphon section S1 and the partition 531.
Atmospheric pressure acts on a surface of the detergent aqueous solution in the detergent input space 504 to press a surface of the detergent aqueous solution. The detergent aqueous solution, which is subject to atmospheric pressure, gradually fills between the first column 5333 and the first cover 553 through the first siphon guide recess 5331. The detergent aqueous solution flowing into the space between the first column 5333 and the first cover 553 may reach the top of the space between the first column 5333 and the first cover 553, flow over the first column 5333, and may subsequently be discharged to a first discharge port 5332 through a hollow volume formed in the first column 5333 due to gravity. The detergent aqueous solution may be discharged to the tub 700 by the first siphon section S1.
Similarly, the second siphon section S2 includes a second siphon guide recess 5351 formed to be depressed downwards from a bottom surface of the second part 535 of the case 530, a hollow second column 5353 communicating with the second outlet 5352 and protruding upwards from the second siphon guide recess 5351 by a predetermined height.
The second siphon section S2 may include a second cover 555 formed in the cap 550 and covering the second column 5353. Here, an inner surface of the second cover 555 covers the second column 5353 such that a space is maintained between the inner surface of the second cover 555 and an outer circumferential surface of the second column 5353 and an upper end portion of the second column 5353. Here, a lower end portion of the second cover 555 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second siphon guide recess 5351 by a predetermined height in the vicinity of a lower end portion of the second column 5353.
The second cover 555 may be connected to the right and rear surfaces of the cap 550 with respect to the conditioner input space 506.
Also, a plurality of second engaging ribs 5354 may protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the second column 535 such that the second cover 555 may be interference-fit to the second column 5353.
The second siphon section S2 may perform water supply and discharge with respect to the same principle as that of the first siphon section S1 described above. That is, wash water supplied from the second fitting 440 b disposed above the space between the second siphon section S2 and the partition 531 or the conditioner aqueous solution accommodated in the conditioner input space 506 may be discharged to the tub 700 through the second outlet 5352 on the same principle as that of the first siphon section S1.
The cap 550 may include a first maximum water level indicator 557 and a second maximum water level indicator 558 respectively connected to the first cover 553 and the second cover 555 to indicate a maximum level.
The first maximum water level indicator 557 may be formed on the inlet 503 side of the detergent input space 504 and indicates a maximum value of an amount of detergent to be input by the user. Here, the first maximum water level indicator 557 may be formed at a position closer to the bottom surface of the case 530 than to an upper surface of the first cover 553 forming the first siphon section S1.
The second maximum water level indicator 558 may be formed on the inlet 505 side of the conditioner input space 506 to indicate a maximum value of an amount of a conditioner input by the user. The second maximum water level indicator 558 may also be formed to be closer to the bottom surface of the case 530 than to an upper surface of the second cover 555.
The first overflow part 5337 is provided on a rear surface of the first part 533 to discharge the detergent aqueous solution, which has not been discharged yet to the tub 700 through the first outlet 5332 of the first siphon section S1, to the tub 700. The first overflow part 5337 may be formed as an upper opening of the first overflow part 5337 formed in the case 530 and is blocked by the cap 550. The first overflow part 5337 may be disposed on a direct rear side of the first siphon section S1, which is away from the anti-scattering part 551 and a lowermost end portion of the first overflow part 5337 may be disposed to be higher than a height of an upper surface of the first column 5333. For example, the lowermost end portion of the first overflow part 5337 and the upper surface of the first column 5333 (on which the principle of the siphon is applied) may have a difference in height therebetween of approximately 2 mm.
Drainage of the first overflow part 5337 may start after drainage of the first siphon section S1. That is, wash water with the detergent dissolved therein is discharged first through the first siphon section S1 and, in case where a supply amount of wash water is greater than a discharge amount of wash water discharged through the first siphon section S1, the detergent aqueous solution which has not been discharged through the first siphon section S1 may be discharged through the first overflow part 5337.
The second overflow part 5357 may discharge the conditioner aqueous solution, which has not been discharged through the second part 535, to the tub 700. The second overflow part 5357 may be formed as an upper opening of the second overflow portion 5357 formed in the case 530 is blocked by the cap 550. The second overflow portion 5357 may be disposed on a direct rear side of the second siphon section S2 away from the anti-scattering part 551 to discharge the conditioner aqueous solution which has not been discharged through the second siphon section S2 to the tub 700. In order to allow the conditioner aqueous solution to be first discharged through the second siphon section S2 and subsequently discharged to the second overflow part 5357, the second overflow part 5357 may be formed to be higher than a height of an upper end of the second column 5353 where the siphon effect acts in the second siphon section S2. Accordingly, a lowermost end portion of the second overflow part 5357 may be disposed to be higher than a height of the upper surface of the second column 5353. For example, the lowermost end portion of the second overflow part 5357 and the upper surface of the first column 5333 (to which the principle of the siphon is applied) may have a difference in height of approximately 2 mm.
The detergent container 500 may include a guide recess 539 for the detergent container 500 to be drawn to the detergent container receiving unit 420 of the front panel 400.
The guide recess 539 may be formed on both side surfaces of the case 530 and extend in the forward/backward direction. Guide protrusion 425 (see FIG. 12) of the detergent container receiving unit 420 (to be described later) may be fastened to the guide recess 539 so that the detergent container 500 may be maintained in a state of being drawn in the detergent container receiving unit 420. In detail, a detergent container arresting part 5392 may be formed at one point of the guide recess 539. The detergent container arresting part 5392 may be caught by a hook 426 formed on the guide protrusion 425 so as to be elastically coupled.
A front end portion of the guide recess 539 may have a size and shape corresponding to the guide protrusion 425 such that a drawn-in state of the detergent container 500 is maintained by the detergent container arresting part 5392 and the guide protrusion 425. Also, a rear end portion of the guide recess 539 may be larger than the front end portion of the guide recess 539 so that the guide protrusion 425 may be guided toward the center of the guide recess 539. Accordingly, when the detergent container 500 is drawn to the detergent container receiving unit 420, the guide protrusion 425 may smoothly enter the guide recess 539.
A concave part 537 may be formed on a lower surface of the case 530 so that the case 530 may be drawn in or out without interference from a front panel fastening part 309 (see FIG. 12) and a cover fastening part (see FIG. 12) respectively provided in the detergent container loading port 304 and the detergent container receiving unit 420. Details of the front panel fastening part 309 and a cover fastening part 428 will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 12.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the cover and the front panel of FIG. 4, and FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a rear surface of the front panel of FIG. 6.
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the detergent container loading port 304 is formed at an upper portion of the cover 300 so that the detergent dispenser 500 may be drawn into and out from the upper portion of the cover 300.
An upper portion of the detergent container loading port 304 protrudes forward to corresponds to a shape of a rear surface of the door 2000, and a central portion of the detergent container loading port 304 may have a sloped shape depressed backwards. A front part mounting recess 305 on which the front part 510 of the detergent container 500 is mounted may be formed near the detergent container loading port 304. Since the detergent container 500 is drawn in to the detergent container loading port 304 and the front part 510 is mounted on the front part mounting recess 305, the front part 510 may form part of a front surface of the cover 300. Accordingly, an upper side 5101 of the front part 510 protrudes to be further sloped to the front surface, relative to a lower side 5103 of the front part 510, to correspond to the shape of the cover 300, and, as a result, the front part 510 may have a shape with a bent portion 5102 extending in a circumferential direction between the upper side 5101 and the lower side 5103.
The detergent container receiving unit 420 provided in the front panel 400 may be formed to correspond to a position of the detergent container loading port 304. The detergent container receiving unit 420 may include a housing 421 forming a receiving space for the detergent container 500, a detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 protruding from the front surface of the housing 421 and allowing the detergent container gasket 430 to be fixed thereto, and guide protrusions 425 formed on both inner side surfaces of the housing 421 and guiding introduction and withdrawal of the detergent container 500.
The housing 421 may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the detergent container 500 and particularly in the form of enclosing the side surface of the detergent container 500. An inlet of the housing 421 may have a sloped shape such that an upper portion thereof protrudes forward so as to correspond to the shape of the rear surface of the door 200, like the shape of the detergent container loading port 304.
The detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 protrudes forward from a front edge of the detergent container receiving unit 420.
The detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 is coupled (e.g., coupled by fitting) to the detergent container gasket 430 to provide a fixing base for the detergent container gasket 430.
The detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 may have a plurality of slits 424 elongated in a forward/backward direction. Here, the slits 424 are arranged in the detergent container fixing rib 423 and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in a horizontal direction of the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423.
When the detergent container gasket 430 is coupled or assembled to the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423, a fixing rib 433 of the detergent container gasket 430 are inserted into the slit 424 of the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423. This relatively increases frictional area based on contact, and thus, a fixing force between the detergent container gasket 430 and the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 is increased.
The guide protrusion 425 may have a hook 426 which may be caught by the detergent container arresting part 5392 to be elastically coupled thereto when the guide protrusion 425 climbs over the detergent container arresting part 5392 of the guide recess 539 of the detergent container 500 and is subsequently stopped in case where the detergent container 500 is inserted into the detergent container receiving unit 420, as described above. As the hook 426 of the guide protrusion 425 is caught by the detergent container arresting part 5392 of the guide recess 539, the detergent container 500 drawn into the inner side of the housing 421 may be stopped and maintained stopped. Conversely, when the user pulls the handle 502 of the detergent container 500 by a force stronger than an elastic coupling force between the hook 426 and the detergent container arresting part 5392 to separate the detergent container 500 maintained in the stopped state, the detergent container 500 may be drawn out from the detergent container receiving unit 420.
In addition, the front panel 400 may be provided with an opening 460 protruding forward from the front panel 400 and having an annular shape. The opening 460 may be formed at a position in which a lower end portion of the detergent container receiving unit 420 protrudes forward from a lower side of the detergent container receiving unit 420.
The opening 460 may include an annular end portion 462 formed at an end portion of the opening 460. Since the annular end portion 462 has a diameter smaller than that of the opening 460 and protrudes from the end portion of the opening 460, the annular end portion 462 has a step in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the annular end portions 462 protrudes.
When the door gasket 450 is installed in the opening 460, the door gasket 450 may receive a relatively high supporting force due to the annular end portion 462 of the opening portion 460 and the step thereof.
In the cover 300 and the front panel 400, the front panel fastening part 309 may be formed at a lower central portion of the detergent container loading port 304 and the cover fastening part 428 may be formed at a lower central portion of the detergent container receiving unit 420, respectively, for coupling to each other. The front panel fastening part 309 and the cover fastening part 428 are formed to protrude convexly from the detergent container loading port 304 and the detergent container receiving unit 420, respectively, and a fastening recess (not shown) allowing a fastening member (such as a bolt for instance) may be provided. Here, the detergent container 500 may have a concave part 537 formed on a lower surface of the case 530 to correspond to the convexly protruding shape of the front panel fastening part 309 and the cover fastening part 428. Thus, when the detergent container 500 is drawn into the detergent container loading port 304 and the detergent container receiving unit 420, the detergent container 500 may be drawn in or out, without interferring with the front panel fastening part 309 and the cover fastening part 428.
Referring to FIG. 13, the front panel 400 may have a guide hole 530 guiding wash water discharged from the case 530 to the tub 700 and having a bottom surface formed to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the case 530 by a predetermined distance. The door gasket 450 coupled to the opening 460 of the front panel 400 may have a guide rib 452 guiding wash water guided by the guide hole 429 to the side of the opening 460.
The door gasket 450 has a ring shape, while the guide rib 452 is formed in an arch-shaped roof-form present only in the upper region of the door gasket 450. At both ends of the guide rib 452, an open region is formed in which water drops toward the tub 700.
The guide hole 429 is formed on a lower surface of the detergent container receiving unit 420, and the lower surface of the detergent container receiving unit 420 may be separated from the case 530 of the detergent container 500, in a state in which the detergent container 500 is drawn in the detergent container receiving unit 420. Due to the difference in height therebetween, the guide hole 429 supplying wash water discharged from the first outlet 5332 and the second outlet 5352 to the tub 700 may be formed.
The guide rib 452 serves to guide washing water guided by the guide hole 429 to the tub 700.
Here, the guide rib 452 may be positioned behind a rearmost end of the door glass 280 provided in the door 200.
Also, the guide rib 452 is formed in an upper region of the door gasket 450 and, as a result, the guide rib 452 may be spaced apart from the rear surface of the front panel 400 by a predetermined distance.
Thus, the wash water discharged to the guide hole 429 may flow to the inner side of the tub 700 along the guide rib 452. However, the guide rib 452 may be located at the same position as those of the first overflow part 5337 and the second overflow part 5357 or behind the first overflow part 5337 and the second overflow part 5357. Thus, wash water discharged from the first overflow part 5337 and the second overflow part may be discharged directly to the tub 700, without passing through the guide hole 429 and the guide rib 452. Due to the presence of the guide ribs 452, a detergent or a conditioner dissolved in the wash water may be prevented from being applied to the door glass 280.
In summary, the wash water discharged through the first siphon section S1 or the second siphon section S2 may be discharged to the guide hole 429 and the wash water discharged to the guide hole 429 may be guided to the inner side of the tub along the guide rib 452.
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a detergent container gasket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 15 illustrates a rear surface of the detergent container gasket of FIG. 14.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the detergent container gasket 430 to which the front part 510 of the detergent container 500 is tightly attached is coupled to a front surface of the detergent container receiving unit 420, the detergent container gasket 430 may be pressed by the cover 300 so as to be fixed to the detergent container receiving unit 420. That is, the detergent container gasket 430 may be tightly attached to the case 530 to prevent any water leakage from water supplied to the detergent container 500.
In more detail, the detergent container gasket 430 may include a body 431 surrounding the inlet of the detergent container receiving unit 420 and a fixing groove 432 formed on a rear surface of the body 431 and allowing the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 to be inserted therein.
Also, the detergent container gasket 430 includes a first waterproof protrusion 435 protruding from an inner surface of the body 431 along a circumference of the body 431 and brought into contact with a circumference of the detergent container 500 and a second waterproof protrusion 437 protruding from a front surface of the body 431 along the circumference of the body 431 and pressed by a blocking rib 312.
Also, the detergent gasket 430 may include a third waterproof protrusion 439 protruding from an outer surface of the body 431 along the circumference of the body 431 and pressed by a support ribs 314.
Since the body 431 is coupled to the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 of the detergent container loading port 304, an upper portion of the body 431 may have a shape sloped forward to correspond to a slope of the detergent container loading port 304 and the inlet of the housing 421.
The fixing groove 432 may be provided with the fixing rib 433 which may be inserted into the slit 424 formed in the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423. As the fixing rib 433 is inserted into the slit 424, the detergent container gasket 430 may be fixed to the detergent container gasket fixing rib 423 with a stronger fixing force.
The first waterproof protrusion 435 may be formed such that a sectional area thereof is narrower toward an end portion thereof to be in line contact with the detergent container 500. In a state in which the detergent container 500 is drawn in the detergent container receiving unit 420, the first waterproof protrusion 435 may be tightly attached to the circumference of the case 530 and may be in line contact with the detergent container 500 to be fixed. In detail, the first waterproof protrusion 435 is in line contact with the case 530 at a position adjacent to the front end portion of the case 530 in which the case 530 is inserted into the case insertion part 513 formed in the front part 510. Such line contact reduces adherence of detergent or foreign matter such as cloth, as compared with a surface-contact type detergent container, and occurrence of water leaks may be reduced as detection of a foreign matter is reduced.
The second waterproof protrusion 437 may protrude forward along the circumference of the detergent gasket 430 and may be tightly attached and pressed to a rear surface of the blocking rib 312 of the cover 300. Also, the third waterproof protrusion 439 may protrude along the circumference of an outer surface of the detergent container gasket 430 and may be tightly attached and pressed to the inner surface of the support rib 314. The blocking rib 312 and the support rib 314 will be described hereinafter in with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a configuration in which the door, the cover, and the front panel of FIG. 4 are coupled, taken along line A-A′, and FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the circle “D” of FIG. 16.
The cover 300 may include the blocking rib 312 forming the detergent container loading port 304 through which the detergent container 500 is drawn in and out and the support rib 314 extending backward from the blocking rib 312.
The blocking ribs 312 may be sloped to be parallel with a rear surface of the front part 510 and may be disposed between the rear surface of the front part 510 and the detergent container gasket 430 to prevent exposure of a front side of the detergent container gasket 430.
The support rib 314 may extend backward from the blocking ribs 312 to press on a circumference of the detergent container gasket 430.
That is, the blocking rib 312 may press on the front side of the detergent container gasket 430 and the support rib 314 may press on the circumference of the detergent container gasket 430.
Accordingly, the detergent container gasket 430 may be coupled to the inlet of the detergent container receiving unit 420 and tightly attached to the detergent container 500, the blocking rib 312, and the support rib 314 to thereby prevent water supplied to the detergent container 500 from leaking to a front side of the detergent container receiving unit 420.
The wall-mounted washing machine, the detergent container of the wall-mounted washing machine, and the front panel of the wall-mounted washing machine according to the embodiments of the present disclosure have an advantage in that detergent and conditioner may be supplied by simply drawing in or out the detergent container once.
Also, the detergent container may be easily drawn in and out by the user.
Although the wall-mounted washing machine, the detergent container of the wall-mounted washing machine, and the front panel of the wall-mounted washing machine according to example embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the example embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wall-mounted washing machine, comprising:

a rear panel operable to be wall-mounted;

a tub disposed on a front surface of the rear panel and operable to contain wash water;

a drum rotatably disposed in the tub;

a front panel having an opening and disposed on a front side of the tub;

a cover covering the front panel;

a detergent container selectively drawn into the front panel from a front side of the cover and drawn out to the front side of the cover from the front panel, wherein the detergent container comprises a detergent input space for accommodating detergent and a conditioner input space for accommodating conditioner;

a door rotatably coupled to the cover to selectively open and close a laundry inlet of the cover; and

a cabinet surrounding the tub, wherein:

the detergent container comprises:

a case forming the detergent input space and the conditioner input space;

a cap coupled to an upper side of the case and comprising: an inlet of the detergent input space; and an inlet of the conditioner input space; and

a front part coupled to a front surface of the case and providing a handle.

2. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 1, wherein the case comprises:

a first part forming the detergent input space; and

a second part forming the conditioner input space, wherein the first part and the second part are partitioned by a partition and arranged in a horizontal direction.

3. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a water supply valve assembly disposed in the front panel and operable to receive wash water from a water supply, wherein the front panel is provided with a detergent container receiving unit into which the detergent container is drawn, and wherein further:

a first fitting operable to provide wash water from the water supply valve assembly to the detergent input space and a second fitting operable to provide wash water from the water supply valve assembly to the conditioner input space are connected to an upper side of the detergent container receiving unit.

4. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 3, wherein:

detergent introduced to the detergent input space is dissolved in the wash water supplied through the first fitting and discharged to an inner side of the tub through a first outlet formed on a bottom surface of the case, and

conditioner introduced to the conditioner input space is dissolved in the wash water supplied through the second fitting and discharged to the inner side of the tub through a second outlet formed on the bottom surface of the case.

5. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 4, wherein:

a guide hole is provided on the front panel and is operable to guide wash water discharged from the case to the tub, and

the guide hole is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the case by a predetermined distance.

6. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 5, further comprising:

a door gasket coupled to the opening of the front panel, and

a guide rib disposed in the door gasket and operable to guide wash water guided by the guide hole to the side of the opening.

7. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 6, wherein the guide rib is spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel by a predetermined distance and is disposed in an upper region of the door gasket.

8. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a detergent container loading port disposed in the cover, and

a detergent container receiving unit disposed in a position of the front panel corresponding to the detergent container loading port and operable to allow the detergent container to be selectively drawn therein and drawn out therefrom.

9. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 8, wherein:

the cover comprises a shape wherein a central portion thereof is depressed backward to correspond to a shape of a rear surface of the door, and

the front part comprises a bent portion corresponding to a shape of a front surface of the cover.

10. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 9, wherein:

the front part comprises a shape wherein an upper side thereof protrudes forward, relative to a lower side thereof, and

the detergent container handle is disposed at the center of the front part.

11. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 8, wherein:

the front part has an area larger than an area of the front surface of the case, and

a front part mounting recess is formed near the detergent container loading port of the cover ad is operable to allow the front part to be mounted therein, and

when the detergent container is drawn in, the front part forms part of a front surface of the cover.

12. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 8, further comprising:

a front panel fastening part and a cover fastening part disposed in a lower central portion of the detergent container loading port and a lower central portion of the detergent container receiving unit, respectively, to couple the cover and the front panel; and

a concave part, having a shape corresponding to the front panel fastening part and the cover fastening part, disposed on a lower surface of the case.

13. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 8, further comprising:

guide recesses disposed on both side surfaces of the case and extending in a forward/backward direction; and

guide protrusions disposed in the detergent container receiving unit and inserted into the guide recesses to guide a forward/backward movement of the case.

14. The wall-mounted washing machine of claim 13, wherein a rear end portion of the guide recess is formed to be wide wherein the guide protrusion is guided toward the center of the guide recess, and further comprising:

a hook for elastic coupling disposed at one point of the guide protrusion; and

a detergent container arresting part disposed at one point of the guide recess to catch the hook therein.

15. A detergent container of a wall-mounted washing machine to be drawn in or out from a detergent container receiving unit in a front panel of the wall-mounted washing machine, the detergent container comprising:

a case comprising a first part in which a detergent input space is formed, a second part in which a conditioner input space is formed, and a partition partitioning the first part and the second part;

a cap coupled to an upper side of the case to cover portions of the first part and the second part and comprising an inlet of the detergent input space and an inlet of the conditioner input space; and

a front part coupled to a front surface of the case and comprising a handle.

16. The detergent container of claim 15, further comprising:

a first outlet disposed on a lower surface of the first part to discharge a detergent aqueous solution in which a detergent of the detergent input space is dissolved, to a tub;

a second outlet disposed on a lower surface of the second part to discharge a conditioner aqueous solution in which a conditioner of the conditioner input space is dissolved, to the tub;

a first overflow part disposed on a rear surface of the first part to discharge a detergent aqueous solution, which has not been discharged through the first outlet, to the tub; and

a second overflow part disposed on a rear surface of the second part to discharge a conditioner aqueous solution, which has not been discharged through the second outlet, to the tub.

17. The detergent container of claim 15, further comprising:

a guide recess disposed on a side surface of the case to allow a guide protrusion provided in the front panel to be inserted thereto;

a rear end portion of the guide recess formed to be wide to guide the guide protrusion toward a center of the guide recess; and

a detergent container arresting part formed at one point of the guide recess to catch one point of the guide protrusion.

18. A front panel comprising a detergent container receiving unit for receiving the detergent container according to claim 15, wherein the front panel is part of an assembly and wherein the assembly comprises:

a cover coupled to a front surface of the front panel;

a detergent container gasket tightly attached to a front part of the detergent container and coupled to a front surface of the detergent container receiving unit; and

a guide protrusion formed on an inner side surface of the detergent container receiving unit and inserted into a guide recess formed on a side surface of the detergent container.

19. The front panel of claim 18, wherein:

a guide hole is provided to guide wash water discharged from the detergent container to a tub, and

the guide hole is spaced apart from a bottom surface of the detergent container by a predetermined distance.

20. The front panel of claim 19, wherein:

a door gasket is coupled to an opening for introducing laundry therethrough,

a guide rib is disposed in the door gasket to guide wash water guided by the guide hole to the side of the opening, and

the guide rib is spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel and disposed in an upper region of the door gasket.