WO2010076176A1

WO2010076176A1 - A washing machine comprising a detergent drawer

Info

Publication number: WO2010076176A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/067101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Korhan Ozkalay
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-12-30
Filing date: 2009-12-14
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Also published as: EP2387639A1; EP2387639B1

Abstract

The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises a detergent drawer (3) whereto the washing agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and wherein the washing agents are mixed with water and a bearing (7) situated on the lower surface of the flushing device (5) and a guide (6) situated on the rear upper surface of the detergent drawer (3), extending from the upper surface of the detergent drawer (3) towards the lower surface of the flushing device (5), moving upright or transversely in the horizontal, with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3) by being seated in the bearing (7) during the forward, backward motion of the detergent drawer (3) thereby aiding in easy dislodging of the detergent drawer (3) for maintaining cleaning.

Description

A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A DETERGENT DRAWER

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a detergent drawer wherein the washing agents are put.

[0002] Washing machines comprise a detergent drawer wherein the washing agents are put. The washing agent placed in the detergent drawer is delivered into the washing tub after being mixed with the wash water. The detergent drawers should be completely taken out from the detergent box chamber contained therein at certain time intervals in order to clean the washing agent residues, dirt deposits, mold, microorganisms etc. formed by the residues which are left in the detergent drawers at the end of the washing process. On the other hand, the detergent drawer is not desired to be easily separated from the detergent box chamber when opened for loading in the washing agents.

[0003] In the state of the art German patent document no DE 19505292, a drawer is explained having a bypass mechanism composed of protrusions and opposite protrusions which prevent the drawer from being dislodged unintentionally.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine comprising a detergent drawer which can be easily separated from the detergent box chamber when desired.

[0005] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a tub wherein the washing process is performed by placing the items to be washed, a detergent drawer wherein the washing agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and the cleaning agents are mixed with water, a detergent box chamber wherein the detergent drawer is disposed, a flushing device disposed on the detergent box chamber which directs the water from the main supply into the detergent drawer, a guide situated on the rear upper surface of the detergent drawer, extending from the upper surface of the detergent drawer towards the lower surface of the flushing device, moving in the horizontal upright or transversely with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer and a bearing situated at the lower surface of the flushing device, wherein the guide is seated and moves during the forward, backward motion of the detergent drawer.

[0006] The bearing comprises two channels joined to each other forming a circular loop wherein the guide moves. These channels are the inlet channel for directing the guide toward the outlet orifice and the return channel for directing the detergent drawer from the outlet orifice towards the inlet orifice when the detergent drawer is desired to be partially or entirely dislodged from the detergent box chamber. Both of the channels are situated between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice.

[0007] The bearing furthermore comprises at least one stopper, disposed in the return channel that makes dislodging of the guide from the return channel difficult during the dislodging of the detergent drawer from the detergent box chamber. The stopper prevents the detergent drawer to be easily dislodged from the detergent box chamber unintentionally.

[0008] The bearing comprises two directing members that direct the guide to the inlet channel while mounting the detergent drawer into the detergent box chamber and direct to the return channel while dismounting the detergent drawer partially or entirely from the detergent box chamber. The directing members provide the guide to be directed toward the channels.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the stopper is configured as a protrusion that extends from the inner walls of the return channel towards inside the channel. By means of this protrusion configuration, an obstruction is formed in front of the guide. The pin or the stopper is freed from each other by being subjected to structural deformation.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the stopper is configured by producing or cladding the inner walls of the return channel with a material having an enhanced coefficient of friction. Thus, when the guide coincides with the stopper, the motion of the detergent drawer becomes difficult since the coefficient of friction and hence the friction force therebetween increases.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the stopper is configured by narrowing the cross section of the return channel at a certain segment. The motion of the guide is prevented when it reaches the narrowed cross section segment of the return channel.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide comprises an arm that extends along the movement direction of the detergent drawer, movable in the horizontal and a pin which is disposed on the arm and which moves inside the bearing. The arm is preferably produced of a resilient material that can stretch in the vertical or transverse direction with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer. Moreover, the pin is made of a material that can be subjected to structural deformation.

[0013] In this embodiment of the present invention, slits are provided on the portion of the pin remaining inside the channels to increase its structural deformation. By means of these slits, the portions of the pin remaining between the slits can stretch more easily under force.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the guide is situated on the siphon lid of the detergent drawer.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the flushing device comprises spraying holes in various sizes and numbers for controllably delivering water into the detergent drawer. On the flushing device at the sections coinciding with the bearing, the spraying holes are situated in the channels.

[0016] In the washing machine of the present invention, the path followed by the guide is made different while the detergent drawer is mounted into the detergent box chamber and while the detergent drawer is dismounted from the detergent box chamber. The guide passes from the inlet channel while the detergent drawer is mounted to the detergent box chamber and from the return channel while the detergent drawer is dismounted partially or entirely from the detergent box chamber. By means of the paths followed being different, the stopper, desired to function only while the detergent drawer is dismounted partially or entirely from the detergent box chamber, is placed in the return channel and thus the detergent drawer can be mounted into the detergent box chamber without confronting any kind of obstruction.

[0017] A washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0018] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine. [0019] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a flushing device [0020] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a detergent drawer and a detergent box chamber.

[0021] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a siphon lid. [0022] Figure 5 - is the top view of a bearing.

[0023] Figure 6 - is the top view of a guide and a bearing at the inlet orifice. [0024] Figure 7 - is the top view of a guide and a bearing at the inlet channel. [0025] Figure 8 - is the top view of a guide and a bearing at the outlet orifice. [0026] Figure 9 - is the top view of a guide and a bearing at the return channel. [0027] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Tub

3. Detergent drawer

4. Detergent box chamber

5. Flushing device

6. Guide

7. Bearing

8. 108. Channel

9. 109. Directing member

10. Stopper

11. Arm

12. Pin

13. Slit

14. Siphon lid

15. Spraying holes

[0028] A washing machine (1) comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing process is performed by placing the items to be washed, a detergent drawer (3) whereto the washing agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and wherein the washing agents are mixed with water and a detergent box chamber (4) whereinto the detergent drawer (3) is mounted, a flushing device (5) disposed above the detergent box chamber (4) for directing the water received from the main supply into the detergent drawer (3) (Figure

1)- [0029] The washing machine (1) comprises a bearing (7) situated on the lower surface of the flushing device (5) and a guide (6) situated on the rear upper surface of the detergent drawer (3), extending from the upper surface of the detergent drawer (3) towards the lower surface of the flushing device (5), moving upright or transversely in the horizontal with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3) by being seated in the bearing (7) during the forward, backward movement of the detergent drawer (3) (Figure 2).

[0030] The bearing (7) comprises two channels (8 and 108) joined to each other forming a circular loop wherein the guide (6) moves. The guide (6) moves inside the inlet channel (8) while the detergent drawer (3) is mounted to the detergent box chamber (4), and inside the return channel (108) while the detergent drawer (3) dismounted partially or entirely from the detergent box chamber (4) (Figure 5, Figure 7 and Figure 8).

[0031] The bearing (7) furthermore comprises at least one stopper (10) disposed inside the return channel (108) that makes dislodging the guide (6) from the return channel (108) difficult during the dislodging of the detergent drawer (3) from the detergent box chamber (4). The stopper (10) prevents the detergent drawer (3) to be easily dislodged from the detergent box chamber (4) unintentionally. The guide (6) coincides with the stopper (10) while moving comfortably inside the return channel (108) and its movement is prevented upon coinciding with the stopper (10) while the detergent drawer (3) is taken out of the detergent box chamber (4). As the guide (6) contacts the stopper (10), the guide (6) and the stopper (10) exert force on each other reciprocally and give the user the feeling that the detergent drawer (3) is in the suitable position for loading washing agents. The guide (6) is freed from the stopper (10) when the detergent drawer (3) is continued to be pulled in the pulling direction. As the guide (6) exits the return channel (108), the detergent drawer (3) is entirely separated from the detergent box chamber (4).

[0032] An inlet orifice (G) is provided on the bearing (7) so that the guide (6) can reach the channels (8, 108). The inlet orifice (G) is sized for allowing the guide (6) to enter the channels (8, 108) but not preventing the forward, backward movement of the guide (6). The guide (6) reaches the channels (8, 108) by passing through the inlet orifice (G) and moves inside the channels (8, 108). The bearing (7) has an outlet orifice (Q) at the opposite side with respect to the inlet orifice (G). The outlet orifice (Q) is where the guide (6) is separated from the bearing (7) by passing therethrough while the detergent drawer (3) is closed (Figure 5 and Figure 6).

[0033] Both of the channels (8, 108) are disposed between the inlet orifice (G) and the outlet orifice (Q). The inlet channel (8) provides the guide (6) to be directed towards the outlet orifice (Q). The return channel (108) provides the detergent drawer (3) to be directed from the outlet orifice (Q) toward the inlet orifice (G) when the detergent drawer (3) is desired to be partially or entirely dislodged from the detergent box chamber (4).

[0034] The beginning of the inlet channel (8) and the end of the return channel (108) intersect just after the inlet orifice (G) with respect to the mounting direction of the detergent drawer (3) into the detergent box chamber (4). Similarly, the end of the inlet channel (8) and the beginning of the return channel (108) intersect just before the outlet orifice (Q). A junction (K) each is provided at these intersection points where the channels (8, 108) intersect. The bearing (7) comprises two directing members (9, 109) for directing the guide (6), coming to the junctions (K), to the inlet channel (8) while mounting of the detergent drawer (3) into the detergent box chamber (4) and to the return channel (108) while partially or entirely dismounting the detergent drawer (3) from the detergent box chamber (4) (Figure 5).

[0035] One of the directing members (9) is at the point where the inlet channel (8) joins with the return channel (108) at the junction (K) after the inlet orifice (G) and provides the guide (6) to enter into the inlet channel (8) instead of the return channel (108) due to its inclined configuration. The other directing member (109) is at the place where the inlet channel (8) joins with the return channel (108) at the junction (K) before the outlet orifice (Q). During the motion of the detergent drawer (3) outward from the detergent box chamber (4), the directing member (109) directs the guide (6) toward the inlet channel (8) due to its inclined configuration. The directing members (9, 109) between the channels (8, 108) are preferably shaped like a ramp. Accordingly, the directing members (9, 109) provide the guide (6) to change places during the movement of the detergent drawer (3).

[0036] When the user desires to dismount the detergent drawer (3) for cleaning, the guide (6) moves in the opening direction of the detergent drawer (3). During this motion, first of all the guide (6) comes to the junction (K) after the outlet orifice (Q) by passing through the outlet orifice (Q) and bears against the directing member (109) at the place where the inlet channel (8) joins with the return channel (108). The directing member (109) directs the guide (6) towards the return channel (108) upon the movement of the detergent drawer (3) outwards from the detergent box chamber (4). The directing member (109) moves the guide (6) in vertical or transverse direction and the guide (6) enters into the return channel (108). The guide (6) moves comfortably inside the return channel (108) until contacting the stopper (10). When the guide (6) coincides with the stopper (10), the guide (6) and the stopper (10) exert force on each other reciprocally and give the user the feeling that the detergent drawer (3) is at the most suitable position for loading washing agents. The guide (6) is freed from the stopper (10) and leaves the return channel (108) when the detergent drawer (3) is continued to be moved in the opening direction. The guide (6) comes to the inlet orifice (G) after leaving the return channel (108) and is separated from the bearing (7) by exiting the inlet orifice (G). Consequently, the detergent drawer (3) entirely leaves the detergent box chamber (4) (Figure 8 and Figure 9).

[0037] When the detergent drawer (3) is desired to be mounted into the detergent box chamber (4) again, it is inserted into the detergent box chamber (4) and moved in the closing direction of the detergent drawer (3). First of all, the guide (6) comes to the junction (K) after the inlet orifice (G) by passing through the inlet orifice (G) and bears against the directing member (9) at the place where the inlet channel (8) and the return channel (108) join. The directing member (9) directs the guide (6) toward the inlet channel (8) by moving thereof in the vertical or transverse directions and the guide (6) enters into the inlet channel (8). The guide (6) moves inside the inlet channel (8) after entering the inlet channel (8) while the detergent drawer (3) moves inside the detergent box chamber (4) in the direction of closing. When the guide (6) comes to the end of the inlet channel (8), it separates from the inlet channel (8) and leaves the bearing (7) going out from the outlet orifice (Q). The guide (6) does not encounter any obstruction or constraint during its movement inside the inlet channel (8) (Figure 6 and Figure 7).

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (6) comprises an arm (11) that is movable in the horizontal and extends along the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3) and a pin (12) which is situated on the arm (11) and which moves in the bearing (7). Since there is a limited distance between the detergent drawer (3) and the flushing device (5), the movement of the guide (6) in the horizontal axis is maintained by the arm (11) extending in the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3). The arm (11) stretches in the vertical or transverse direction with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3) during the motion of the pin (12) in the bearing (7) and maintains the pin (12) thereon to change place inside the channels (8, 108). One end of the arm (11) is fixed to the detergent drawer (3). The other end is in the free position and the pin (12) is disposed thereon. The pin (12) extends from the arm (11) towards the bearing (7) and moves inside the bearing (7). The guide (6) changes place in the vertical or transverse direction with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3) during the movement of the pin (12) inside the bearing (7) along the channels (8, 108) (Figure 4).

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, the stopper (10) is configured like a protrusion on the inner walls (W) of the return channel (108) extending from the walls (W) towards the inner part of the channel (108). The stopper (10) makes the cross section of the return channel (108) narrower and prevents the movement of the guide (6) inside the channel (108) by means of its protruding configuration. When the detergent drawer (3) is pulled outward, the guide (6) gets caught to the stopper (10) and remains inside the channel (108). Consequently, opening the detergent drawer (3) is met with a difficulty when the guide (6) is caught by the stopper (10). In this case, if the user wants to dislodge the detergent drawer (3) entirely from the detergent box chamber (4), s/he keeps on pulling the detergent drawer (3) thereby causing the guide (6) to be subjected to temporary deformation and thereby pass by the stopper (10) (Figure 4 and Figure 5).

[0040] When the user wants to dislodge the detergent drawer (3) for cleaning, the detergent drawer (3) easily moves in the detergent box chamber (4) until the pin (12) moving inside the return channel (108) coincides with the stopper (10). When the pin (12) contacts the stopper (10), the movement of the detergent drawer (3) inside the return channel (108) is limited by the motion of the pin (12) in the opening direction of the detergent drawer (3) and the detergent drawer (3) cannot leave the detergent box chamber (4) furthermore. In this case, the user encounters a difficulty in opening the detergent drawer (3). When the user continues to pull the detergent drawer (3) more forcefully, the guide (6) and the stopper (10) exert force on each other reciprocally and the pin (12) or the stopper (10) is subjected to structural deformation and leaves the channel (108) (Figure 4 and Figure 5).

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the stopper (10) is configured from a portion in the inner walls (W) of the return channel (108) produced of a material with an enhanced coefficient of friction. When the guide (6) coincides with the stopper (10) inside the return channel (108), the friction force between the guide (6) and the stopper (10) increases and the user is confronted with difficulty in opening the detergent drawer (3). In this case, if the user wants to entirely take out the detergent drawer (3) from the detergent box chamber (4), s/he continues to pull the detergent drawer (3) with a force greater than the increased friction force thereby maintaining the guide (6) to pass from the stopper (10).

[0042] In another embodiment of the present invention, the stopper (10) is configured by narrowing the cross section of the return channel (108). In that case, the guide (6) is confronted by a counter - force during leaving the return channel (108) due to the narrowed cross section. If the user wants to take out the detergent drawer (3) entirely from the detergent box chamber (4), the guide (6) leaves the channel (108) when s/he increases the pulling force thereby structurally deforming the pin (12) or the stopper (10).

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, the pin (12) is configured as a cylindrical pipe. The guide (6) comprises slits (13) arranged above the segment of the pin (12) remaining inside the channels (8, 108) in the bearing (7). The slits (13) on the cylinder shaped pin (12) extend from the end of the pin (12) at the side of the bearing (7) towards the arm (11) and along the segment of the pin (12) remaining inside the channels (8, 108). The portions of the pin (12) remaining between the slits (13) can stretch under force. By means of the slits (13), the pin (12) is subjected to structural deformation above a certain amount of force at the point of contact with the stopper (10) and can pass by the stopper (10) (Figure 4).

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises a siphon lid (14) situated on a siphon wherefrom the liquid washing agents are discharged from the detergent drawer (3) together with the received water. The guide (6) is disposed on the siphon lid (14).

[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, the flushing device (5) comprises spraying holes (15) of various sizes and numbers for controllably delivering water into the detergent drawer (3). The spraying holes (15) on the flushing device (5) at the sections coinciding with the bearing (7) are situated in the channels (8, 108). Accordingly, the bearing (7) situated at the lower surface of the flushing device (5) does not prevent functioning of the spraying holes (15).

[0046] In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide (6) is produced of a resilient material.

[0047] By means of the washing machine (1) of the present invention, the detergent drawer (3) is prevented from being easily dislodged out of the detergent box chamber (4) unintentionally.

[0048] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and an expert in the technique can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine (1) that comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing process is performed by placing the items to be washed, a detergent drawer (3) whereto the washing agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed and wherein the washing agents are mixed with water, a detergent box chamber (4) whereinto the detergent drawer (3) is mounted, and a flushing device (5) disposed above the detergent box chamber (4) for directing the water received from the main supply into the detergent drawer (3) and characterized by a bearing (7) situated on the lower surface of the flushing device (5) and a guide (6) situated on the rear upper surface of the detergent drawer (3), extending from the upper surface of the detergent drawer (3) towards the lower surface of the flushing device (5), moving upright or transversely in the horizontal with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3) by being seated in the bearing (7) during the forward, backward motion of the detergent drawer

(3).

2. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by two channels (8, 108) joined to each other and forming a circular loop wherein the guide (6) moves.

3. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a return channel (108) whereof the beginning intersects with the end of the inlet channel (8) just before the outlet orifice (Q) with respect to the mounting direction of the detergent drawer (3) into the detergent box chamber (4).

4. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the inlet channel (8) whereof the beginning intersects with the end of the return channel (108) just after the inlet orifice (G) with respect to the mounting direction of the detergent drawer (3) into the detergent box chamber (4).

5. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 4, characterized by at least one stopper (10) which is situated in the return channel (108) and which makes separating the guide (6) from the return channel (108) difficult while dislodging the detergent drawer (3) from the detergent box chamber (4).

6. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the stopper (10) configured like a protrusion on the inner walls (W) of the return channel (108) which extends from the walls (W) towards the inner part of the channel (108).

7. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the stopper (10) configured from the segment in the inner walls (W) of the return channel (108) with an enhanced coefficient of friction.

8. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the stopper (10) which is the segment of the return channel (108) with the narrowed cross section.

9. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 5 or 6, characterized by the stopper (10) which is subjected to structural deformation.

10. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 9, characterized by a directing member (9) which directs the guide (6) that comes to the junction (K) where the channels (8, 108) intersect towards the inlet channel (8) while mounting the detergent drawer (3) into the detergent box chamber (4).

11. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 10, characterized by a directing member (109) which directs the guide (6) that comes to the junction (K) where the channels (8, 108) intersect towards the return channel (108) while dismounting the detergent drawer (3) partially or entirely from the detergent box chamber (4).

12. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the guide (6) comprising an arm (11) that extends in the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3), which can move in the horizontal and a pin (12) situated on the arm (11) and moving in the bearing (7).

13. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 12, characterized by the arm (11), produced of a resilient material that can stretch in the vertical or transverse direction with respect to the movement direction of the detergent drawer (3).

14. A washing machine (1) as in Claim 12 or 13, characterized by the pin (12) which is configured as a cylindrical pipe.

15. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 12 to 14, characterized by the guide (6) comprising slits (13) arranged above the segment of the pin (12) remaining inside the channels (8, 108) in the bearing (7).

16. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 12 to 15, characterized by the pin (12) which is subjected to structural deformation.

17. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the guide (6) that is disposed on a siphon lid (14).

18. A washing machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 17, characterized by the flushing device (5) comprising spraying holes (15) of various sizes and numbers situated inside the channels (8, 108) for controllably delivering water into the detergent drawer (3).