WO1999029953A1

WO1999029953A1 - Washing machine with a device for jetting water into a spin basket

Info

Publication number: WO1999029953A1
Application number: PCT/KR1998/000399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Un Gu Huh; Jin Doo Kim
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-12-08
Filing date: 1998-12-03
Publication date: 1999-06-17
Also published as: KR19990048168A; EP0958425A1; JP2001511055A

Abstract

A washing machine has a spin basket (2) rotated by a driving motor (11). A barrel supplied with water from a supply pipe is disposed at an outer area of the spin basket, and a nozzle (30) is installed in the barrel (25). The barrel has holes (32) for jetting water into the spin basket, and can move between a position protruding from the barrel to be adjacent to an opening of the spin basket and a position inserted into the barrel to be distanced from the opening. The nozzle is elastically pressed by a spring. When the supply pipe is opened by a valve, the nozzle is moved against the elastic force of the spring toward the protruding position by a hydraulic pressure of water flowing into the barrel through the supply pipe. Then, the water is jetted into the spin basket through the holes in a showering manner. Thus, a rinsing efficiency is enhanced.

Description

WASHING MACHINE WITH A DEVICE FOR JETTING WATER

INTO A SPIN BASKET

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a device for jetting water into a spin basket for accommodating laundry.

BACKGROUND ART

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a conventional washing machine, particularly a drum type washing machine. The washing machine has a tub 103 supported by a suspension (not shown) in a casing 101 , a spin basket 102 installed rotatably around a horizontal axis in the tub 103, and a driving motor 111 for rotating the spin basket 102. The tub 103 and the spin basket 102 have respective openings opened to the front side of the casing 101 , and a door 110 for opening/closing the tub 103 is installed on the openings. The driving motor 111 is connected with the spin basket 102 by a belt 112 and a pulley 113.

A detergent container 107 is installed on the upper area of the casing 101. In the casing 101 are installed a first supply pipe 105 connecting an outside supply pipe (not shown) to the detergent container 107, a second supply pipe 104 connecting the detergent container 107 to the tub 103, and a supply valve 106 for opening/closing the first supply pipe 105.

When the supply valve 106 is opened, the water is supplied into the detergent container107 through the first supply pipe 105, and the detergent contained in the detergent container 107 is dissolved by the water supplied into the detergent container 107. The water mixed with the dissolved detergent is supplied into the tub 103 and the spin basket 102 through the second supply pipe 104. A user opens the door 110 and puts laundry into the spin basket 102, and then controls a control panel (not shown) to operate the washing machine. A microprocessor (not shown) in the washing machine opens the supply valve 106, whereby water containing the detergent is supplied into the spin basket 102 via the first supply pipe 105, the detergent container 107, and the second supply pipe 104.

Then, the washing machine drives the driving motor 111 to rotate the spin basket 102 in forward and reverse directions in turn, by which the laundry in the spin basket 102 is washed. When the washing operation is completed, the washing machine drains the water in the spin basket 102 through a draining device (not shown), and then performs a rinsing operation and a dehydrating operation successively.

In order to rinse the laundry, the washing machine opens the supply valve 106 again, and then the water is supplied into the spin basket 102 via the first supply pipe 105, the detergent container 107, and the second supply pipe 104. The driving motor 111 rotates the spin basket 102 again in the forward and reverse directions in turn, by which the laundry is rinsed. When the rinsing operation is completed, the washing machine drains the water in the spin basket 102 again through the draining device, and then performs the dehydrating operation by rotating the spin basket 102 at a high speed. The rinsing and dehydrating operations are performed several times.

However, in such a conventional washing machine, since the water is merely supplied through the first and second supply pipes 105 and 104, the rinsing efficiency is low. That is, when the water is being supplied for the rinsing operation, the level of water in the spin basket 102 rises gradually. Thus, a sufficient rinsing effect cannot be achieved while the water is supplied into the spin basket 102. Therefore, only a part of laundry is rinsed during the initial time of the rinsing operation, and a lot of time is required in rinsing the overall part of laundry.

In order to overcome such a problem, a washing machine has been proposed in which water is sprayed on the overall part of the laundry by jetting water toward the laundry, which is so-called a shower-type washing machine. But, since the washing machine has a fixed tub 103 and a rotating spin basket 102 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is not easy to install a device for jetting the water into the spin basket 102.

If the jetting device is installed on the tub 103, it is not easy to jet the water into the spin basket 102, and if the jetting device is installed on the spin basket 102, it is not easy to transmit to the jetting device a driving force to provide the jetting device with a jetting power since the spin basket 102 is rotating. If the jetting device is installed near the opening part of the spin basket 102, it is easy to jet the water into the spin basket 102; however, since the jetting device blocks the opening part, the laundry cannot be put into the spin basket 102 through the opening part easily.

The conventional washing machine is equipped with, as described above, a detergent container 107 for the sake of user's convenience. The water is supplied into the spin basket 102 via the detergent container 107, so the user need not do an additional work for supplying the detergent into the spin basket 102 before operating the washing machine.

However, in such a conventional washing machine, if the detergent in the detergent container 107 is not perfectly dissolved by the water supplied before the washing operation, the detergent remaining in the detergent container 107 may be dissolved by the water supplied before the rinsing operation and is then supplied into the spin basket 102; the rinsing efficiency is lowered. In order to rinse the laundry sufficiently, a lot of rinsing and dehydrating operations are required, thereby increasing the operation time of washing machine, and consumption of water and electrical energy.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed to overcome the above- described problems in the prior art, and accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a water supply device capable of enhancing the rinsing efficiency by jetting water toward laundry. Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which makes no hindrance caused by the existence of such a water supply device when a user puts the laundry into a spin basket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a water supply device which supplies water containing a detergent into the spin basket before the washing operation and supplies water containing no detergent into the spin basket before the rinsing operation.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a washing machine comprising: a spin basket installed in a tub and rotated by a driving motor, the spin basket having an opening for putting laundry thereto; a first supply pipe into which water is supplied from an outside; a barrel disposed at an outer area of the spin basket, the barrel being supplied with water from the first supply pipe; a nozzle having a plurality of holes for jetting water into the spin basket, the nozzle being installed in the barrel so as to be capable of moving between a position protruding from the barrel to be adjacent to the opening and a position inserted into the barrel to be distanced from the opening; a spring for elastically pressing the nozzle toward the inserted position; and a first valve for opening/closing the first supply pipe. When the first valve is opened, the nozzle is moved against an elastic force of the spring toward the protruding position by a hydraulic pressure of water flowing into the barrel through the first supply pipe.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine further comprises a detergent container for containing a detergent; and a means for supplying water from the outside, into the spin basket via the detergent container before a washing operation and into the first supply pipe before a rinsing operation.

Preferably, the supplying means comprises: a second supply pipe for supplying the water from the outside into the detergent container; a third supply pipe connecting the detergent container to the spin basket, the third container for supplying water in which the detergent in the detergent container has been dissolved into the spin basket; and a second valve for opening/ closing the second supply pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood and its various objects and advantages will be more fully appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic side sectional views of a drum type washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic side sectional views of a drum type washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of a conventional drum type washing machine; and FIG. 6 is a schematic side sectional view of a drum type washing machine shown in FIG. 5.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which particularly show a drum type washing machine. The washing machine according to the present invention has, as the conventional washing machine, a tub 3 supported by a casing 1 , a spin basket 2 installed rotatably in the tub 3, and a driving motor 11 for rotating the spin basket 2. The spin basket 2 is rotated around a horizontal axis. The driving motor 11 is connected with the spin basket 2 by a belt 12 and a pulley 13. The spin basket 2 and the tub 3 have respective openings 2a and 3a opened to the front side of the casing 1 , and a packing member 19 is installed on the opening 3a of the tub 3. A door 10 for opening/closing the tub 3 is installed on the packing member 19.

A first supply pipe 14 connected with an outside supply pipe (not shown) is installed in the casing 1. The first supply pipe 14 is extended toward the front area of the tub 3 in the casing 1 , and a device 20 for jetting water supplied from the first supply pipe 14 into the spin basket 2 is installed on the end portion 16 of the first supply pipe 14.

A first valve 15 for opening/closing the first supply pipe 14 is installed on an area of the first supply pipe 14. When the first valve 15 is opened, the water supplied into the first supply pipe 14 is supplied into the spin basket 2 through the jetting device 20. The jetting device 20 is disposed on the upper outer area of the openings 2a and 3a.

The jetting device 20 comprises a barrel 25 installed at the end portion 16 of the first supply pipe 14, and a nozzle 30 inserted into the barrel 25. The barrel 25 is fixed on the end portion 16 of the first supply pipe 14 by a fixing member 26. The nozzle 30 can move up and down along the longitudinal direction of the barrel 25. A plurality of holes 32 are formed on the lower area of the nozzle 30. The nozzle 30 can be moved between a position protruding downward from the barrel 25 as shown in FIG. 1 , and a position inserted upward into the barrel 25 as shown in FIG. 2. When the nozzle 30 is moved down to the protruding position as shown in FIG. 1 , the holes 32 are positioned to be adjacent to the openings 2a and 3a, and the water jetted through the holes 30 is supplied into the spin basket 2 through the openings 2a and 3a. When the nozzle 30 is moved up to the inserted position as shown in FIG. 2, almost overall part of the nozzle 30 is accommodated in the barrel 25, and the holes 32 are distanced from the openings 2a and 3a.

A supporting part 27 for preventing the disassembly of the nozzle 30 is formed in the lower end of the barrel 25, and a flange 31 is formed in the upper end of the nozzle 30. Furthermore, a spring 33 is disposed between the supporting part 27 and the flange 31. The spring 33 elastically presses the nozzle 30, whereby the nozzle 30 is maintained to be moved up toward the inserted position. Hereinbelow, the operation of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described.

Before the washing operation, the first valve 15 closes the first supply pipe 14. A user opens the door 10 and puts laundry into the spin basket 2. In this situation, the nozzle 30 is moved up to the inserted position by the elastic force of the spring 33 as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the nozzle 30 does not obstruct the openings 2a and 3a of the spin basket 2 and the tub 3, and the user can pus the laundry into the spin basket 2 easily.

Then the user controls a control panel (not shown) to operate the washing machine. A microprocessor (not shown) in the washing machine opens the first supply valve 15, whereby water is supplied into the barrel 25 through the first supply pipe 14.

By the hydraulic press of the water supplied into the barrel 25, the nozzle 30 is moved down against the elastic force of the spring 33 so that the holes 32 are close to the openings 2a and 3a as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the water supplied into the nozzle 30 is jetted into the spin basket 2 through the holes 32.

When a required amount of water is supplied into the spin basket 2, the washing machine closes the first valve 15. Then the water is not supplied any more, and the nozzle 30 is moved up again to the inserted position by the elastic force of the spring 33.

Then, the washing machine drives the driving motor 11 to rotate the spin basket 2 in forward and reverse directions in turn, by which the laundry in the spin basket 2 is washed. When the washing operation is completed, the washing machine drains the water in the spin basket 2 through a draining device (not shown), and then opens the first valve 15 for the rinsing operation. Thus, by the operation of the jetting device 20 as described above, the water in the first supply pipe 5 is jetted into the spin basket 2 again by the jetting device 20.

The driving motor 11 rotates the spin basket 2 again in the forward and reverse directions in turn, whereby the laundry is rinsed. When the rinsing operation has been completed, the washing machine drains the water in the spin basket 2 again through the draining device, and then performs the dehydrating operation by rotating the spin basket 2 at a high speed. The rinsing and dehydrating operations are performed several times.

According to the present invention, since the water is jetted by the jetting device 20 in a showering manner, the water is sprayed over the overall part of the laundry. Thus, the rinsing efficiency is enhanced. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the nozzle 30 is moved to the protruding position only while the water is being jetted by the jetting device 20, the jetting device 20 does not obstruct the openings 2a and 3a while the user puts the laundry into the spin basket 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the description of the present embodiment, parts identical to those of the washing machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are referred to with the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the tub 3, the spin basket 2 and the jetting device 20 has the same construction as the above-described first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the washing machine has a detergent container 7. The detergent container 7 is installed on the upper front area of the casing 1. Furthermore, the washing machine according to the present embodiment has a device for supplying water from an outside into the spin basket 2 via the detergent container 7 before a washing operation and into the first supply pipe 14 before a rinsing operation.

The water supply device comprises a second supply pipe 5 connecting an outside supply pipe (not shown) to the detergent container 7, a third supply pipe 4 connecting the detergent container 7 to the tub 3, and a second supply valve 6 for opening/closing the second supply pipe 5. The second supply pipe 5 is branched from the first supply pipe 14.

When the second supply valve 6 is opened, the water is supplied into the detergent container 7 through the second supply pipe 5, and the detergent contained in the detergent container 7 is dissolved by the water supplied into the detergent container 7. The water mixed with the detergent dissolved is supplied into the tub 3 and the spin basket 2 through the third supply pipe 4.

Hereinbelow, the operation of the washing machine according to the present embodiment will be described.

Before the washing operation, the first valve 15 and the second valve 6 close the first supply pipe 14 and the second supply pipe 5, respectively. A user opens the door 10 and puts laundry into the spin basket 2. In this situation, the nozzle 30 is moved up to the inserted position by the elastic force of the spring 33 as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the nozzle 30 does not obstruct the openings 2a and 3a of the spin basket 2 and the tub 3, and the user can pus the laundry into the spin basket 2 easily.

Then the user controls a control panel (not shown) to operate the washing machine. A microprocessor (not shown) in the washing machine opens the second supply valve 6, whereby the water with the dissolved detergent is supplied into the spin basket 2 via the second supply pipe 5, the detergent container 7, and the third supply pipe 4.

When a required amount of water is supplied into the spin basket 2, the washing machine closes the second valve 6, whereby the water is not supplied any more.

Then, the washing machine drives the driving motor 1 1 to rotate the spin basket 2 in forward and reverse directions in turn, whereby the laundry in the spin basket 2 is washed. When the washing operation is completed, the washing machine drains the water in the spin basket 2 with a draining device (not shown), and then performs the rinsing and dehydrating operations successively.

For the rinsing operation, the washing machine opens the first valve 15, whereby the water is supplied into the barrel 25 through the first supply pipe 14. By the hydraulic press of the water supplied into the barrel 25, the nozzle 30 is moved down against the elastic force of the spring 33 so that the holes 32 are close to the openings 2a and 3a as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the water supplied into the nozzle 30 is jetted into the spin basket 2 through the holes 32. When a required amount of water is supplied into the spin basket 2, the washing machine closes the first valve 15. Then the water is not supplied any more, and the nozzle 30 is moved up again to the inserted position by the elastic force of the spring 33.

The driving motor 1 1 rotates the spin basket 2 again in the forward and reverse directions in turn, whereby the laundry is nsed. When the rinsing operation has been completed, the washing machine drains the water in the spin basket 2 again through the draining device, and then performs the dehydrating operation by rotating the spin basket 2 at a high speed. The rinsing and dehydrating operations are performed several times. According to the present embodiment, since the water is supplied to the spin basket 2 via the detergent container 7 before the washing operation, the user can supply the detergent into the spin basket 2 easily. Furthermore, the water is directly supplied into the spin basket 2 through the first supply pipe 14 before the rinsing operation. Therefore, water without the detergent is supplied to the spin basket 2, and thereby rinsing efficiency is enhanced.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the water is jetted by the jetting device 20, the washing and rinsing efficiency is enhanced. Furthermore, if an additional device is employed for supplying water from the outside into the spin basket 2 via the detergent container 7 before the washing operation and into the first supply pipe14 before the rinsing operation, the rinsing efficiency is more enhanced. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, wherein the spirit and scope of the present invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A washing machine comprising: a spin basket installed in a tub and rotated by a driving motor, the spin basket having an opening for putting laundry thereto; a first supply pipe into which water is supplied from an outside; a barrel disposed at an outer area of the spin basket, the barrel being supplied with water from the first supply pipe; a nozzle having a plurality of holes for jetting water into the spin basket, the nozzle being installed in the barrel so as to be capable of moving between a position protruding from the barrel to be adjacent to the opening and a position inserted into the barrel to be distanced from the opening; a spring for elastically pressing the nozzle toward the inserted position; and a first valve for opening/closing the first supply pipe, whereby the nozzle is moved against an elastic force of the spring toward the protruding position by a hydraulic pressure of water flowing into the barrel through the first supply pipe, when the first valve is opened.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spin basket is rotated around a horizontal axis, and the opening is formed in a side of the spin basket.

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nozzle is installed above the opening.

4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a detergent container for containing a detergent; and a means for supplying water from the outside into the spin basket via the detergent container before a washing operation and into the first supply pipe before a rinsing operation.

5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the supplying means comprises: a second supply pipe for supplying the water from the outside into the detergent container; a third supply pipe connecting the detergent container to the spin basket, the third container for supplying the water mixed with the detergent dissolved in the detergent container into the spin basket; and a second valve for opening/closing the second supply pipe.